Biomaterial Database

Lithium restores glycogen synthesis from glucose in hepatocytes from diabetic rats. 1993

J E Rodriguez-Gil, and J J Guinovart, and F Bosch

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain.

In hepatocytes incubated in the presence of 20 mM glucose, strong stimulation of glycogen synthesis by LiCl was observed in cells from both normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. This stimulation was concentration- and time-dependent, and it was related to an increase in the glycogen synthase activity ratio. No effects of LiCl on glycogen phosphorylase activity were detected under these conditions. When hepatocytes were incubated with LiCl and insulin together, an additive effect on glycogen synthesis from glucose was observed. However, when hepatocytes were incubated in the presence of gluconeogenic precursors, such as lactate and pyruvate, and then with LiCl, no effect on glycogen accumulation was observed. Under these conditions, simultaneous activation of glycogen synthase and glycogen phosphorylase occurred. These results indicate that lithium ions, like insulin, are able to stimulate glycogen synthesis from glucose in diabetic rat hepatocytes, although the mechanisms of action of the two effectors on hepatic glycogen metabolism are probably different.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007328	Insulin	A 51-amino acid pancreatic hormone that plays a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, directly by suppressing endogenous glucose production (GLYCOGENOLYSIS; GLUCONEOGENESIS) and indirectly by suppressing GLUCAGON secretion and LIPOLYSIS. Native insulin is a globular protein comprised of a zinc-coordinated hexamer. Each insulin monomer containing two chains, A (21 residues) and B (30 residues), linked by two disulfide bonds. Insulin is used as a drug to control insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 1).	Iletin,Insulin A Chain,Insulin B Chain,Insulin, Regular,Novolin,Sodium Insulin,Soluble Insulin,Chain, Insulin B,Insulin, Sodium,Insulin, Soluble,Regular Insulin
D007773	Lactates	Salts or esters of LACTIC ACID containing the general formula CH3CHOHCOOR.
D008094	Lithium	An element in the alkali metals family. It has the atomic symbol Li, atomic number 3, and atomic weight [6.938; 6.997]. Salts of lithium are used in treating BIPOLAR DISORDER.	Lithium-7,Lithium 7
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D008297	Male		Males
D011773	Pyruvates	Derivatives of PYRUVIC ACID, including its salts and esters.
D003921	Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental	Diabetes mellitus induced experimentally by administration of various diabetogenic agents or by PANCREATECTOMY.	Alloxan Diabetes,Streptozocin Diabetes,Streptozotocin Diabetes,Experimental Diabetes Mellitus,Diabete, Streptozocin,Diabetes, Alloxan,Diabetes, Streptozocin,Diabetes, Streptozotocin,Streptozocin Diabete
D004305	Dose-Response Relationship, Drug	The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug.	Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D005943	Gluconeogenesis	Biosynthesis of GLUCOSE from nonhexose or non-carbohydrate precursors, such as LACTATE; PYRUVATE; ALANINE; and GLYCEROL.
D005947	Glucose	A primary source of energy for living organisms. It is naturally occurring and is found in fruits and other parts of plants in its free state. It is used therapeutically in fluid and nutrient replacement.	Dextrose,Anhydrous Dextrose,D-Glucose,Glucose Monohydrate,Glucose, (DL)-Isomer,Glucose, (alpha-D)-Isomer,Glucose, (beta-D)-Isomer,D Glucose,Dextrose, Anhydrous,Monohydrate, Glucose