ROLE OF THE LIVER IN INTESTINAL GLUCOSE-ABSORPTION

Evidence is presented for the view that the major part of glucose transport in the rat intestine is produced by intestinal metabolism combined with gluconeogenesis by he liver. When blood circulation through the liver was cut off by a porto-caval shunt and a ligation of the portal vein and hepatic artery, no inrease in systemic blood sugar concentration could be detected upon absorption of glucose from a 6 mg/ml solution in the intestine. An increase of 0.3 mg/ml was obtained in the liver with intact circulation or upon intraportal injection of glucose in amounts disappearing from the intestine. The maximal increase in port-arterial difference during absorption in the 'shunted' animal accounted for only 10-15% of the glucose absorbed. About half of the missing glucose was converted to lactic acid. © 1979.