STUDIES ON GLUCOSE AND POTASSIUM METABOLISM OF LIVER

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Studing on the relationship between Glucose (G) and potassium (K) metabolism of liver in normal subjects, hepatitis and cirrhosis etc., following results were obtained.1) In cases with liver disease, fasting arterial plasma potassium level (PKA) was somewhat lower than in normal subjects.2) In fasting state, hepatic mobilization of G and K was admitted in control subjects, but in hepatitis and cirrhosis, to less degree. Significant correlation was observed between the amount of G mobilized from liver and that of K.3) After intravenous injection of glucose (0.5gm per Kg), hepatic uptake of G and K occured, resulting in arterial blood sugar (GA) fall and PKA decrease in normal subjects, but the effect was lesser in hepatitis and cirrhosis. The rate of GA fall was significantly correlated with the decrease of PKA. Furthermore GA fall and PKA decrease seemed to be proportional with the grade of hepatic G and K uptake respectively.4) After intravenous injection of insulin (0.1unit per Kg), hepatic uptake of K and reduction of hepatic G mobilization occured, resulting in the decrease of GA and PKA in normal subjects, but the effect was lesser in hepatitis and cirrhosis. Significant correlation was observed between the decrease of GA and that of PKA. Furthermore the decrease of GA and PKA seemed to be proportional with the grade of reduction of hepatic G mobilization and the grade of hepatic K uptake respectively.5) Subcutaneous injection of adrenaline (0.01mg per kg) in normal subjects, caused GA increase and PKA decrease simultaneously, but had a lesser effect in cirrhosis. There was no close relationship between GA increase and PKA decrease, and for PKA decrease, apparent hepatic uptake of K was not observed. Intravenous rapid injection of adrenaline (0.02gm) to normal dogs, caused hepatic mobilization of G and K, resulting in the increase of GA and PKA, but had a lesser effect in dogs injured with CCl4. The increase of GA was significantly correlated with the increase of PKA. Furthermore the increase of GA and PKA seemed to be proportional with the grade of hepatic mobilization of G and K respectively. The change of K always preceded that of G.6) After the oral administration of KCl (5gm), slight increase of GA was observed in normal subjects, and the effect was quite similar in hepatitis and cirrhosis. After intravenous injection of KCl (20mg per kg as K), hepatic mobilization of G and K occured, resulting in the increase of GA. There was no close relationship between the increase of GA and the change of PKA, but the increase of GA seemed to be proportional with the grade of G mobilization from liver. The effect was lesser in dogs injured with CCl4, but the rate of K disappearance from arterial blood was not altered.7) In two cases with familial periodic paralysis, striking abnormality in G and K metabolism was observed. In them, the uptake of G and K after intravenous injection of glucose or insulin was more apparent in peripheral tissues than liver.