title: Effects of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug mefenamic acid on energy metabolism in the perfused rat liver.
abstract: The action of mefenamic acid, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, on energy metabolism in the isolated perfused rat liver was investigated. Mefenamic acid in the range between 0.1 and 1.0 mM was infused to livers from well-fed rats and from 24-hr fasted rats. The former were perfused with substrate-free Krebs/Henseleit-bicarbonate buffer, allowing the measurement of glycogenolysis and glycolysis from endogenous glycogen. The livers from 24-hr fasted rats, on the other hand, were perfused with Krebs/Henseleit-bicarbonate buffer containing fructose, thus allowing the measurement of fructolysis and glucose synthesis. Oxygen consumption was measured in both cases. When present in the range between 0.1 and 0.5 mM, mefenamic acid increased glycolysis, oxygen uptake, glycogenolysis and fructolysis. Higher concentrations, depending on the perfusion conditions, were inhibitory. Glucose production from exogenous fructose, on the other hand, was inhibited at low mefenamic acid concentrations. In general terms, the effects of mefenamic acid on energy metabolism seemed to be the primary consequence of its uncoupling action on the respiratory chain. This conclusion is supported mainly by the opposite effects on glucose synthesis (inhibition) and oxygen consumption (activation). The intracellular concentration of mefenamic acid is much higher than the extracellular one, a phenomenon which may represent binding to intracellular membrane or proteins.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Liver Metabolism, University of Maringa, Brazil.
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Kemmelmeier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bracht
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D005632:Fructose / Q000378:metabolism; D006019:Glycolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008112:Liver Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008528:Mefenamic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D010477:Perfusion; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D008112:Liver Glycogen; D005632:Fructose; D008528:Mefenamic Acid