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Impaired glucose sensing by intrahepatic, muscarinic nerves for an insulin‐stimulated hepatic glucose uptake in streptozotocin‐diabetic rats
Author(s) -
Stümpel Frank,
Scholtka Bettina,
Jungermann Kurt
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(98)01121-1
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , postprandial , streptozotocin , diabetes mellitus , insulin , muscarinic acetylcholine receptor , acetylcholine , receptor
Insulin‐induced net hepatic glucose uptake depends on the sensing by muscarinic, intrahepatic nerves of a glucose concentration gradient between portal vein and hepatic artery. The function of these intrahepatic nerves was examined in streptozotocin‐diabetic rats. In the presence of the glucose gradient insulin induced net glucose uptake in isolated perfused livers from control and acutely diabetic but not from chronically diabetic animals. The neurotransmitter acetylcholine still mimicked the existence of the gradient, excluding a metabolic impairment of livers of chronically diabetic animals. The impairment of the intrahepatic nerves due to diabetic neuropathy could contribute to postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus.