Heterogeneity of liver parenchymal cells

Abstract

Hepatocytes from the periportal (afferent) and perivenous (efferent) zone of a structural liver unit, called acinus, differ in their enzyme equipments and subcellular structures. Therefore a functional heterogeneity of the different zones also appears very likely. The model of ‘metabolic zonation' proposes, that oxidative energy metabolism, β -oxidation, amino acid catabolism, ureagenesis from amino acids, gluconeogenesis and cholic acid excretion is preferentially located in the periportal zone and that glycolysis, liponeogenesis, ureagenesis front ammonia and biotransformation is predominantly situated in the perivenous zone.