Glycogenesis from glucose and ureagenesis in isolated perfused rat livers: Influence of ammonium ion, norvaline, and ethoxyzolamide

The probable involvement of hepatic carbamyl-P in the reciprocal relationship between hepatic ureagenesis and glycogenesis from glucose was explored. Isolated perfused liver preparations from 48-h fasted rats were employed. Moderate (9.2 mM) and relatively high levels of glucose (34 mM) were perfused. Hepatic glycogenesis, glucose-6-P, carbamyl-P, and citrulline levels, hepatic urea formation, and ureagenesis based upon perfusate urea levels were measured. Experimental probes selected to modify hepatic ureagenesis and carbamyl-P production and utilization included: (a) NH₄Cl, maintained at 5 mM by continuous infusion (NH₄⁺ is a substrate for carbamyl-P synthase I and glutamate dehydrogenase); (b) norvaline, an inhibitor of ornithine transcarbamylase which catalyzes the first committed step in the urea cycle; and (e) ethoxyzolamide, an inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase which produces HCO₃^-, an essential substrate for carbamyl-P synthase I. NH₄⁺ increased ureagenesis and decreased glycogenesis. The inclusion of norvaline with NH₄⁺ decreased ureagenesis and increased glycogenesis. Ethoxyzolamide with or without NH₄⁺ inhibited both ureagenesis and glycogenesis, and decreased the hepatic glucose-6-P level. Glycogenesis was greater at 34 mM than 9.2 mM glucose, increased in norvaline-containing preparations correlative with increased availability of carbamyl-P, and decreased when carbamyl-P formation was inhibited by ethoxyzolamide. Kinetic analysis indicated a K_m, _Glc of 31 mM for glucose phosphorylation preliminary to glycogenesis. Glycogen formation via the "indirect pathway" (i.e. involving extrahepatic glycolysis, transport of lactate to the liver, and glyconeogenesis therefrom) was quantitatively insufficient to account for the observed glycogenesis. Glucokinase is contraindicated by the inverse relationship between hepatic glycogenesis and ATP availability in the ethoxyzolamide-treated preparations. In contrast, carbamyl-P:glucose phosphotransferase activity of the glucose-6-phosphatase system has the characteristics to bridge hepatic ureagenesis and glycogenesis.