Stimulation by vasopressin of glycogen breakdown and gluconeogenesis in the perfused rat liver

Abstract

1. Vasopressin (anti-diuretic hormone, [8-arginine]vasopressin) stimulated the breakdown of glycogen in perfused livers of fed rats, at concentrations (50-600muunits/ml) that have been reported in the blood of intact rats, especially during acute haemorrhagic shock. 2. In perfused livers from starved rats, vasopressin (30-150muunits/ml) stimulated gluconeogenesis from a mixture of lactate, pyruvate and glycerol. 3. Vasopressin prevented accumulation of liver glycogen in the perfused liver of starved rats, or in starved intact rats. 4. The action of vasopressin on hepatic carbohydrate metabolism thus resembles that of glucagon; the minimum effective circulating concentrations of these hormones are of the same order (100pg/ml). 5. The stimulation of hepatic glucose output by vasopressin is discussed in connexion with the release of glucose and water from the liver.

Vasopressin V1a and V1b Receptors: From Molecules to Physiological Systems

“…In contrast, depending on the feeding status of the animal and the experimental conditions, AVP and LVP stimulate lipolysis and increase the release of free fatty acids (FFAs) (393,520,541). Further involvement of AVP in regulating the supply of energy substrates is suggested by the finding that AVP increases circulating glucose levels by stimulating glucagon release from pancreatic islet cells and by promoting glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in the liver (211). These findings imply that AVP regulates lipid metabolism not only through the regulation of lipolysis in adipose tissue but also through the supply of energy substrates, such as glucose.…”

Rapid stimulation, by vasopressin and adrenaline, of inorganic phosphate incorporation into phosphatidyl inositol in isolated hepatocytes

“…These three hormones exert similar effects upon hepatic metabolism, enhancing glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in the perfused liver [3,4] and glycogenolysis in isolated hepatocytes [5-71. There is general agreement that glucagon and P-adrenergic agonists exert their metabolic effects upon the liver by elevating the intracellular concentration of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate [3,8]. Neither a-adrenergic agents nor vasopressin elevate North-Holland Publishing Comparzy -Amsterdam hepatic cyclic AMP [8,9], and their mechanisms of action remain obscure.…”

Role of extracellular calcium in the action of vasopressin on hepatic glycogenolysis

“…Vasopressin (anti-diuretic hormone) has been shown to stimulate glycogen breakdown in perfused rat and mouse liver preparations [1][2][3][4] at concentrations which can occur in the intact animal (i.e. 0.1-1.0 mU/ml) especially during haemorrhagic shock [5].…”