Cell swelling inhibits proteolysis in perfused rat liver.
Exposure of isolated single-pass-perfused rat liver to hypo-osmotic media resulted in liver cell swelling and an inhibition of release of branched-chain amino acids. Similarly, cell swelling inhibited [3H]leucine release from perfused livers from rats in which liver proteins were prelabelled in vivo by intraperitoneal injection of L-[4,5-3H]leucine 16-20 h before the experiment. The effects of cell swelling on [3H]leucine release were fully reversible. [3H]Leucine release was also inhibited when cell swelling was induced by addition of glutamine (0.5-2 mM). There was a close relationship between the inhibition of [3H]leucine release and the degree of liver cell swelling, regardless of whether cell swelling was induced by hypo-osmotic perfusion or addition of glutamine. The data suggest that the known anti-proteolytic effect of glutamine is in large part due to glutamine-induced hepatocyte swelling.
Häussinger
D
D
Medizinische Universitätsklinik, Freiburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
Hallbrucker
C
C
vom Dahl
S
S
Lang
F
F
Gerok
W
W
D000818:Animals; D007038:Hypotonic Solutions; D007700:Kinetics; D007930:Leucine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010477:Perfusion; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014316:Tritium
D007038:Hypotonic Solutions; D011506:Proteins; D014316:Tritium; D007930:Leucine