Some hormonal effects on uptake of free fatty acids by the liver

¹ Department of Physiology, Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The uptake of free fatty acids (FFA) by the liver was determined in dogs by measuring the portal-hepatic difference in FFA and liver plasma flow. Intravenously administered epinephrine or norepinephrine increased the portal-hepatic difference and the hepatic uptake of FFA. Estimated hepatic plasma flow decreased after norepinephrine, but did not change consistently after epinephrine. Infusion of glucose decreased the portal-hepatic difference and the uptake of FFA by the liver. Insulin diminished hepatic uptake, but the difference was not statistically significant. It is not known, whether the changes in hepatic uptake of FFA are due indirectly to the influence of altered systemic FFA levels on the liver, or to a direct effect of the hormones on the liver.