title: The inhibition of gluconeogenesis by chloroquine contributes to its hypoglycaemic action.
abstract: The effect of chloroquine on gluconeogenesis in isolated hepatocytes and kidney-cortex tubules of rabbit has been studied. The inhibitory action of 200 microM chloroquine was the highest in hepatocytes and renal tubules incubated with glutamine and glutamate+glycerol+octanoate, respectively, while in the presence of other substrates the drug action was less pronounced. With amino acids as substrates, the inhibition of gluconeogenesis was accompanied by a decreased glutamine production, resulting from a decline of glutamate dehydrogenase activity. A decrease in the urea production by hepatocytes incubated with chloroquine in the presence of glutamine but not NH4Cl as the source of ammonium is in agreement with this suggestion. The degree of inhibition by chloroquine of the rate of gluconeogenesis in renal tubules isolated from control rabbits was similar to that determined in diabetic animals. Chloroquine-induced changes in levels of intracellular gluconeogenic intermediates indicate a decrease in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase activities probably due to increased concentration of 2-oxoglutarate, an inhibitor of these two enzymes. In view of the data, it is likely that inhibition by chloroquine of glucose formation in liver and kidney may contribute to the hypoglycaemic action of this drug. The importance of the inhibitory effect of chloroquine on glutamate dehydrogenase activity in the antihyperglycaemic action of the drug is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Metabolism Regulation, Institute of Biochemistry, Warsaw University, Ul. Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jarzyna
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiersztan
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lisowa
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bryła
mesh_terms: D000496:Alloxan; D000818:Animals; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005943:Gluconeogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) / Q000378:metabolism; D011766:Pyruvate Carboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000496:Alloxan; D002738:Chloroquine; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP); D011766:Pyruvate Carboxylase; D005947:Glucose