Effect of fasting, epinephrine and glucose and insulin on hepatic uptake of nonesterified fatty acids

¹ Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington

Catheters placed in the portal and hepatic veins of dogs were maintained in position for 2–4 weeks, and experiments were performed in the unanesthetized state no less than 3 days after the operative procedure. Hepatic uptake of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) was determined from the portal-hepatic NEFA difference and the hepatic blood flow. Hepatic NEFA uptake was found to increase with fasting and after administration of epinephrine. It was found to decrease after the administration of glucose and insulin. It was concluded that these factors did not directly influence the liver to alter its NEFA uptake but that the liver responded primarily to the concentration of NEFA in the blood entering it.