title: Ca2+ dependence of gluconeogenesis stimulation by glucagon at different cytosolic NAD(+)-NADH redox potentials.
abstract: The influence of Ca2+ on hepatic gluconeogenesis was measured in the isolated perfused rat liver at different cytosolic NAD(+)-NADH potentials. Lactate and pyruvate were the gluconeogenic substrates and the cytosolic NAD(+)-NADH potentials were changed by varying the lactate to pyruvate ratios from 0.01 to 100. The following results were obtained: a) gluconeogenesis from lactate plus pyruvate was not affected by Ca(2+)-free perfusion (no Ca2+ in the perfusion fluid combined with previous depletion of the intracellular pools); gluconeogenesis was also poorly dependent on the lactate to pyruvate ratios in the range of 0.1 to 100; only for a ratio equal to 0.01 was a significantly smaller gluconeogenic activity observed in comparison to the other ratios. b) In the presence of Ca2+, the increase in oxygen uptake caused by the infusion of lactate plus pyruvate at a ratio equal to 10 was the most pronounced one; in Ca(2+)-free perfusion the increase in oxygen uptake caused by lactate plus pyruvate infusion tended to be higher for all lactate to pyruvate ratios; the most pronounced difference was observed for lactate/pyruvate ratio equal to 1. c) In the presence of Ca2+ the effects of glucagon on gluconeogenesis showed a positive correlation with the lactate to pyruvate ratios; for a ratio equal to 0.01 no stimulation occurred, but in the 0.1 to 100 range stimulation increased progressively, producing a clear parabolic dependence between the effects of glucagon and the lactate to pyruvate ratio. d) In the absence of Ca2+ the relationship between the changes caused by glucagon in gluconeogenesis and the lactate to pyruvate ratio was substantially changed; the dependence curve was no longer parabolic but sigmoidal in shape with a plateau beginning at a lactate/pyruvate ratio equal to 1; there was inhibition at the lactate to pyruvate ratios of 0.01 and 0.1 and a constant stimulation starting with a ratio equal to 1; for the lactate to pyruvate ratios of 10 and 100, stimulation caused by glucagon was much smaller than that found when Ca2+ was present. e) The effects of glucagon on oxygen uptake in the presence of Ca2+ showed a parabolic relationship with the lactate to pyruvate ratios which was closely similar to that found in the case of gluconeogenesis; the only difference was that inhibition rather than stimulation of oxygen uptake was observed for a lactate to pyruvate ratio equal to 0.01; progressive stimulation was observed in the 0.1 to 100 range. f) In the absence of Ca2+ the effects of glucagon on oxygen uptake were different; the dependence curve was sigmoidal at the onset, with a well-defined maximum at a lactate to pyruvate ratio equal to 1; this maximum was followed by a steady decline at higher ratios; at the ratios of 0.01 and 0.1 inhibition took place; oxygen uptake stimulation caused by glucagon was generally lower in the absence of Ca2+ except when the lactate to pyruvate ratio was equal to 1. The results of the present study demonstrate that stimulation of gluconeogenesis by glucagon depends on Ca2+. However, Ca2+ is only effective in helping gluconeogenesis stimulation by glucagon at highly negative redox potentials of the cytosolic NAD(+)-NADH system. The triple interdependence of glucagon-Ca(2+)-NAD(+)-NADH redox potential reveals highly complex interrelations that can only be partially understood at the present stage of knowledge.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Metabolismo Hepático, Universidade de Maringá, Brasil.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Marques-da-Silva
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: D'Avila
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kelmer-Bracht
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Constantin
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bracht
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D003600:Cytosol; D005934:Glucagon / Q000502:physiology*; D005943:Gluconeogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver; D009243:NAD / Q000502:physiology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010477:Perfusion; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D009243:NAD; D005934:Glucagon; D002118:Calcium