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Biomedical subjects

J H Exton

Publications and source records attributed to J H Exton.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Regulation of gluconeogenesis by glucocorticoids.

1. Regulation of gluconeogenic substrate supply and modulation of the gluconeogenic pathway in the liver are both important in the control of gluconeogenesis by glucocorticoids. 2. Adrenal deficiency decreases the release of gluconeogenic and other amino acids from skeletal muscle during starvation. The effect is reversed by glucocorticoid replacement. The changes in amino acid release are accompanied by similar alterations in tissue amino acid levels and are not explained by alterations in net protein breakdown. Glucocorticoids do not alter protein catabolism and cause a small inhibition of protein synthesis. The biochemical alterations underlying the changes in amino acid metabolism induced by these steroids remain to be elucidated. Glucocorticoids may also regulate the supply of gluconeogenic substrates through permissive effects on the lipolytic action of catecholamines and other hormones in adipose tissue and on the glycogenolytic action of catecholamines on skeletal muscle. 3. Glucocorticoids are required for the increases in gluconeogenesis in starvation and diabetes. Part of their action is exerted directly on the liver and appears to involve modulation of P-enlopyruvate carboxykinase levels. Glucocorticoids increase the synthesis of this enzyme apparently through effects at the level of transcription. 4. Glucocorticoids exert permissive effects on the stimulation of gluconeogenesis in the liver by glucagon and epinephrine. The steroids are not required for cAMP generation or protein kinase activation by these hormones, but appear to act by maintaining the responsiveness of certain enzymes to the effects of the cAMP and alpha-adrenergic systems. It is proposed that this involves the maintenance of a normal intracellular ionic environment.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1979

Mechanisms involved in alpha-adrenergic effects of catecholamines on liver metabolism.

Recent results have indicated that alpha-adrenergic receptors are the major mediators of catecholamine actions on liver metabolism in several species. It is well-established that cAMP and cAMP-dependent protein kinase are not involved in hepatic alpha-adrenergic effects. This review presents evidence that alpha-adrenergic stimulation of glycogenolysis in rat liver involves the mobilization of Ca2+ ions from mitochondria and stimulation of phosphorylase kinase by the resulting increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. Possible mechanisms by which activation of alpha-adrenergic receptors causes release of mitochondrial Ca2+ and affects other cell processes are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Mechanisms of catecholamine actions on liver carbohydrate metabolism.

Epinephrine rapidly activates phosphorylase in hepatocytes, mainly by a mechanism(s) involving alpha-adrenergic and not beta-adrenergic receptors. The alpha-adrenergic mechanism does not involve accumulation of cAMP or activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. It is impaired when hepatocytes are depleted of calcium by EGTA treatment and is rapidly restored by readdition of calcium. Basal phosphorylase is also lowered by calcium deficiency and rapidly increased by calcium but not other divalent cations. The divalent cation ioniphore A23187 increases phosphorylase a levels in hepatocytes in a calcium-dependent manner. Calcium deficiency does not modify the effects of glucagon, cAMP, or beta-adrenergic activation on phosphorylase. Activation of alpha-adrenergic receptors rapidly increases 45Ca fluxes in hepatocytes. Glucagon produces similar effects, but supraphysiological concentrations are required. The hypothesis is advanced that alpha-adrenergic activation of phosphorylase involves alterations in cell calcium such that there is an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration leading to increased phosphorylase kinase activity. Epinephrine induces greater cAMP accumulation in calcium-depleted cells than in normal cells. The effect is mediated by alpha-adrenergic and not beta-adrenergic receptors. Calcium deficiency also cuases cAMP accumulation in hepatocytes incubated with phenylephrine but does not modify the responses of the cells to isoproterenol, glucagon, or cAMP. Low concentrations of calcium rapidly reverse alpha-adrenergic receptor-mediated cAMP accumulation in calcium-depleted cells. The hypothesis is advanced that calcium normally exerts an inhibitory effect on a linkage between alpha-adrenergic receptors and adenylate cyclase in hepatocytes.

Animals↗