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PubMed2002

Age-dependent regulation of the acid-labile subunit in response to fasting-refeeding in rats.

The GH-dependent, hepatocyte-derived acid-labile subunit (ALS) regulates IGF release from the serum by forming ternary complexes containing IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 or IGFBP-5. Malnutrition suppresses ALS and IGF-I expression in a development-dependent manner. Our aim was to investigate whether the effect of feeding following fasting was similarly age dependent. We fasted juvenile and adult rats for 48 h and then refed them, collecting serum and liver tissue at 8, 24, and 48 h. These were compared with rats before fasting (0 h controls) and animals fed throughout the study (free-fed controls). During fasting, serum ALS fell to 25 +/- 5.3% of 0 h controls in juveniles but only 56 +/- 6% in adults. Within 24 h of refeeding, ALS in juveniles had returned to 0 h control levels, and by 48 h to free-fed levels, whereas there was no significant refeeding response in adults during this period. Circulating IGF-I and IGFBP-5 showed similar age-dependent responses to refeeding, rising significantly faster in juveniles. IGFBP-3 did not show this response. Furthermore, hepatic ALS and IGF-I mRNA showed no age-differential response to fasting and refeeding, suggesting posttranscriptional regulation. Neither regulation of hepatic GH receptor nor ALS clearance rates could explain the age-dependent effect. We hypothesize that development-dependent regulation of ALS and IGF-I during refeeding may involve a posttranscriptional hepatic response that is not GH dependent.

Aging↗

PubMed1995

A comparison of rat small intestinal insulin and insulin-like growth factor I receptors during fasting and refeeding.

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and insulin may be important regulators of intestinal growth. To investigate small intestinal IGF-I receptors (IGF-IR) and insulin receptors (IR) during intestinal cell atrophy and regeneration, we compared indexes of IGF-IR and IR expression in rat jejunum after 72 h of fasting and 24-72 h of enteral refeeding. Fasting induced intestinal atrophy, reduced plasma insulin and IGF-I concentrations, and markedly decreased jejunal IGF-I messenger RNA (mRNA) levels; these changes were reversed by refeeding. Fasting significantly increased jejunal specific insulin binding, IR content (to 230% of the fed control value), and the 9.6- and 7.4-kilobase IR mRNA transcript levels (to 202% and 218% of control values, respectively). These IR indexes rapidly decreased to control levels with refeeding. Levels of IGF-IR (by Scatchard analysis) and IGF-I-R mRNA were not significantly altered with fasting. The 11-kilobase IGF-IR mRNA transcript increased significantly during the first 24 h of refeeding (to 166% of the control value), and IGF-IR number rose 3-fold. We conclude that rat jejunal IR and IGF-IR are differentially regulated by nutrient availability. Up-regulation of jejunal IGF-I and IGF-IR expression during refeeding suggests a role for the IGF action pathway in gut trophic responses to enteral nutrients.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Rapid adaptations of serum thyrotrophin, triiodothyronine and reverse triiodothyronine levels to short-term starvation and refeeding.

Nutrition influences thyroid function at the level of TSH secretion, at the level of monodeiodination, and possibly elsewhere. In order to study the effect of starvation on TSH secretion, 8 healthy male volunteers fasted for 30 h and were then refed with 800 kcal. Refeeding was performed at 19.00 h and blood was sampled at 20 min intervals until midnight. Control experiments were performed in the same subjects both when they were normally fed and when the starvation period was prolonged a further 5 h until midnight. Starvation decreased serum TSH levels to below 1 mU/1, and without refeeding the nocturnal peak of the TSH nycthemeral rhythm was abolished. With refeeding serum TSH tended to increase towards midnight and was significantly higher than during starvation. However, the serum TSH levels remained significantly below those at the same time of the day in the absence of a preceding starvation period. Serum T3 levels were significantly lower than in the fed state. The mean values were 1.84 +/- 0.03 vs 2.30 +/- 0.06 nmol/l (120 +/- 2 vs 150 +/- 4 ng/100 ml, mean +/- SEM P less than 0.01). Refeeding did not result in a measurable change in serum T3 concentration (1.80 +/- 0.05 nmol/l; 120 +/- 3 ng/100 ml, mean +/- SEM, n.s.). The contrary was true for rT3 levels which increased in starvation and tended to fall with refeeding, but this decrease was not significant. As glucocorticoids have been implicated in the control of monodeiodination and TSH secretion, serum cortisol levels were also measured. They did not differ during the 3 experimental periods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1993

Ovarian and hepatic insulin-like growth factor-I gene expression and associated metabolic responses in prepubertal gilts subjected to feed restriction and refeeding.

The effects of feed restriction and refeeding on ovarian and hepatic insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene expression, systemic and ovarian IGF-I concentrations and on associated metabolic changes were measured in prepubertal gilts. Eleven pairs of littermate gilts (70.7 +/- 4.7 kg) were placed on a maintenance level of feeding for 7 days (days 1-7). On day 8, littermates were either fed at a maintenance level of energy or fed to appetite for a further 6 days. Blood samples were taken on day 13 (07.00-16.00 h) to determine plasma insulin and IGF-I, and on day 14 (02.00-06.00 h) to determine plasma GH levels. Following slaughter on day 14, one ovary from each animal was retained to measure follicular fluid IGF-I and oestradiol concentrations. The remaining ovary and a sample of liver were retained for IGF-I mRNA analysis using a ribonuclease protection assay. Six days of refeeding significantly increased plasma IGF-I (P < 0.005) and basal insulin (P < 0.05) but there was no effect on plasma GH. Ovarian follicular volume and diameter were significantly larger after refeeding (P < 0.05), with no effect on follicular fluid oestradiol concentrations. Mean follicular fluid IGF-I concentrations were unaffected by treatment. However, the relationships between individual follicular IGF-I concentrations, absolute follicular fluid IGF-I contents and follicle volume were affected by feeding level (P < 0.05). Regression analysis of the same data also revealed that at this stage of maturity, small follicles had greater follicular fluid concentrations of IGF-I than larger follicles. Refeeding increased the amount of IGF-I mRNA in hepatic but not ovarian tissue. We conclude that there is differential regulation of the IGF-I gene in porcine hepatic and ovarian tissues, and that ovarian factors other than, or as well as, IGF-I are involved in the regulation of ovarian responses to refeeding.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Differential effects of leptin and refeeding on the fasting-induced decrease of pituitary type 2 deiodinase and thyroid hormone receptor beta2 mRNA expression in mice.

Profound changes in thyroid hormone metabolism occur in the central part of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis during fasting. Hypothalamic changes are partly reversed by leptin administration, which decreases during fasting. It is unknown to what extent leptin affects the HPT axis at the level of the pituitary. We, therefore, studied fasting-induced alterations in pituitary thyroid hormone metabolism, as well as effects of leptin administration on these changes. Because refeeding rapidly increased serum leptin, the same parameters were studied after fasting followed by refeeding. Fasting for 24 h decreased serum T(3) and T(4) and pituitary TSHbeta, type 2deiodinase (D2), and thyroid hormone receptor beta2 (TRbeta2) mRNA expression. The decrease in D2 and TRbeta2 mRNA expression was prevented when 20 mug leptin was administered twice during fasting. By contrast, the decrease in TSHbeta mRNA expression was unaffected. A single dose of leptin given after 24 h fasting did not affect decreased TSHbeta, D2, and TRbeta2 mRNA expression, while 4 h refeeding resulted in pituitary D2 and TRbeta2 mRNA expression as observed in control mice. Serum leptin, T(3), and T(4) after refeeding were similar compared with leptin administration. We conclude that fasting decreases pituitary TSHbeta, D2, and TRbeta2 mRNA expression, which (with the exception of TSHbeta) can be prevented by leptin administration during fasting. Following 24 h fasting, 4 h refeeding completely restores pituitary D2 and TRbeta2 mRNA expression, while a single leptin dose is ineffective. This indicates that other postingestion signals may be necessary to modulate rapidly the fasting-induced decrease in pituitary D2 and TRbeta2 mRNA expression.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Follow-up of cardiac abnormalities in female adolescents with anorexia nervosa after refeeding.

OBJECTIVES: Anorexia nervosa is a life-threatening eating disorder, with significant risk for sudden death due to severe cardiac complications. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the cardiac abnormalities in female adolescents with anorexia nervosa and to examine the long-term results and reversibility of the detected cardiac abnormalities. METHODS: We prospectively studied eleven female adolescents (13.5-17 years old) with anorexia nervosa diagnosed according to DSM IV criteria. On admission they were all on a weight-losing course with a mean body mass index of 13.71 +/- 1.54 (11.38-17.05) kg/m2. The mean follow-up duration was 2.45 +/- 1.17 (1-4.5) years. All patients reached normal weight after treatment. The control group was composed of 12 healthy, age-matched, adolescent girls of normal weight. The patients with anorexia nervosa and the control group underwent a complete clinical examination, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic evaluations. These evaluations were repeated one year after refeeding. RESULTS: Patients with anorexia nervosa had a lower heart rate and blood pressure than the control group and they increased to normal levels as found in the control group after refeeding. QT and QTc were significantly longer and R wave amplitudes in V6 were significantly lower in the patients with anorexia nervosa than in the control group. QT and QT'c dispersions were significantly greater in anorexia nervosa patients compared to the control group. Left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index were significantly lower in the anorexia nervosa group. One year after refeeding, there was a significant decrease in QT, QTc, QTd and QTcd. Although in anorexia nervosa patients, R wave amplitudes in V6 increased after refeeding; they did not reach the levels found in the control group. Control echocardiograms of anorexia nervosa patients after refeeding showed an increase in LV diameters and cardiac mass. There was a strong correlation between QT dispersion and left ventricular mass index. CONCLUSIONS: The adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa had significant structural and functional cardiac abnormalities in comparison to the control group. All these abnormalities were reversible except low R wave amplitude in V6.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1982

Effect of starvation and refeeding on the scorpion, Buthus tamulus.

1. Scorpions were starved for 1, 4, 8, and 12 days and then subsequently refed until the sixteenth day. The concentrations of glycogen, amino acid, and protein in the liver were determined to evaluate the effect of starvation and refeeding on these biochemical constituents. 2. The concentration of glycogen decreased gradually but significantly with the progressive days of starvation. After refeeding, the concentration increased sharply and attained the normal condition after 4 days of refeeding. 3. The concentrations of amino acids and proteins increased during first few days of starvation and declined thereafter. After refeeding the concentrations of amino acids and proteins increased gradually and attained the normal conditions after 3 and 4 days respectively. 4. The water content of the liver did not show any significant variation with the progressive days of starvation or after refeeding.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1989

Effect of refeeding following short-term deprivation of feed or water, or both, on selected physiological parameters for broiler chickens.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of refeeding broilers following a 12-h fast on body weight, serum glucose, serum protein, packed cell volume, hemoglobin, serum sodium, serum potassium, and plasma refractive index. Four fasting regimens were utilized in each experiment: 1) full feed and water (control); 2) no feed with full water; 3) full feed with no no water; and 4) no feed and no water (NFNW). Following the 12-h fast, all birds were returned to feed and water with ad libitum access. Birds deprived of feed or water, or both, for 12 h gained more weight attributable to feed and water consumption than did the control birds during the 12-h refeeding period. Following refeeding, serum glucose values for the birds receiving only water during the fast were higher initially than those for the control birds; glucose values for the NFNW birds returned to normal. Hemoglobin values for birds receiving no feed during the fast initially were higher than for the control group after refeeding. The other blood parameters measured remained virtually unchanged during the 12 h monitored after refeeding.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1991

Effect of refeeding on the energy metabolism of adolescent girls who have anorexia nervosa.

The effect of refeeding on resting energy expenditure (REE) and substrate utilization was studied in 18 hospitalized adolescent girls (aged 12.9-19.1 years) suffering from anorexia nervosa. Changes in body composition were monitored weekly and included weight, fat body mass (FBM), lean body mass (LBM) and total body potassium (TBK). REE was studied weekly by open-circuit calorimetry. Weight gain was noted in all patients (38.2 +/- 5.6 to 44.5 +/- 5.3 kg), involving increased FBM and LBM. REE increased per kg of weight (91.6 +/- 15.1 to 101.7 +/- 18.0 kJ kg-1 d-1) and LBM over the first weeks of refeeding (P less than 0.025) and then stabilized. Substrate utilization showed an increase in carbohydrate and protein utilization (P less than 0.001) during the first few weeks of refeeding. We also studied the thermic effect of food (TEF) in 14 of the 18 subjects. Upon admission the subjects had a reduced TEF (36.4 +/- 24.3 kJ 2 h-1) (P less than 0.001). With refeeding TEF rose to a peak or plateau, then decreased to normal levels (61.9 +/- 36.0 kJ 2 h-1) before discharge from hospital. We conclude that the energy metabolism of adolescent girls adapts to semi-starvation by a reduction in both REE and TEF; with refeeding there is reversal of this adaptive function.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1980

Induction of antral gastrin cell proliferation by refeeding of rats after fasting.

The proliferation of antral gastrin cells after fasting and refeeding of rats was studied by using a quantitative histologic method for determining the gastrin cell number and a radioautographic technique after injections of tritiated thymidine for recognizing and quantitating the newly formed gastrin cells. The total number of gastrin cells decreased 68% (P less than 0.01) after a 4-day fasting period, whereas refeeding of rats during 6 days after a 4-day fasting period resulted in a 79% (P less than 0.01) increase of the gastrin cell mass. The labeling index of gastrin cells after six daily injections of tritiated thymidine given during this period of refeeding was significantly (P less than 0.01) increased when compared with this value in control animals. The observed intensity of the proliferative response during refeeding was compatible with the increase in gastrin cell number observed during refeeding. These observations indicate that a new population of gastrin cells is formed in the antral glands when rats are refed after fasting.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

The effect of fasting and refeeding on total messenger ribonucleic acid content in the liver of chicks.

1. The effect of 3-days fasting and the subsequent 3-days refeeding on total messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) content in the liver of chicks was investigated. 2. Body weight and liver weight were decreased by fasting, and were increased by refeeding to higher than initial values. 3. There was no influence of fasting and refeeding on RNA and mRNA contents per unit liver weight. 4. Total RNA content in the liver was decreased by fasting and was increased by refeeding to higher than the initial level. Fasting tended to reduce total mRNA content in the liver, and the following refeeding increased it significantly up to the initial level.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Malnutrition and total parenteral nutrition: a cohort study to determine the incidence of refeeding syndrome].

UNLABELLED: The Refeeding Syndrome is conformed by a series of clinical manifestations related to electrolytic alterations associated with the restarting of the nutritive contribution both enteral and parenteral. AIM: To detect the Refeeding Syndrome incidence in malnourished patients who required nutritional, enteral or endovenous support and its relationship with mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cohort study was performed in the service of Nutritional Support of the IMSS (Social Security Mexican Institute) Specialties Hospital CMN León, from June 1995 to May 1996. All patients with mild and severe malnutrition were included, they received endovenous or enteral nutritious support for more than 7 days, without presenting previous electrolytic unbalance. Serum potassium, phosphorous, and magnesium levels were determined before starting the nutritious support and also on the 3rd, 7th, and 10th days. Descriptive statistics, Student's t and Z test were used, with a 5% significance level. RESULTS: 148 patients with total nutritional support, 23 (16%) of them with restrained malnutrition and 65 (44%) with severe deficit. 54 men and 34 women with an average age of 51.6 +/- 19.4 years. Nineteen patients were eliminated due to a nutrition period of less than 7 days, and other 19 were also eliminated for presenting electrolytic alterations before the nutritive support started. An incidence of 48% of electrolytic alterations compatible with the refeeding syndrome was the result in the remaining 50 patients. The alterations were: hypomagnesemia 13/24, hypokalemia 12/24 and hypophosphatemia 4/24; in 55% of the cases the syndrome appeared at the third day of administration. Hospital sojourn of patients with the syndrome was 26.7 +/- 18 days vs 15.3 +/- 7 (p < 0.05) of those who did not present it. 15 patients died, 5 of them had electrolytic alterations before nutrition, 7 (29%) with refeeding syndrome and 3 (12%) did not presented it (p = 0.059). CONCLUSIONS: Refeeding Syndrome is a frequent entity in malnourished patients submitted to enteral or parenteral nutrition; at least in this study it was of 48%; its presence was followed by a longer hospital stay and a higher mortality rate.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Weight fluctuations during early refeeding period in anorexia nervosa: case reports.

OBJECTIVE: This study reports wide weight fluctuations during a week of early refeeding for 2 patients with anorexia nervosa and discusses possible mechanisms. METHOD: Laboratory tests that consist of complete blood count, biochemistry panel, and serum protein levels were performed. Fluid intake and daily urine output of the patients were measured. RESULTS: Laboratory tests were within normal limits for both patients except for leukopenia in one patient. By the end of the Week 1, both patients had achieved significant weight gain (9 kg and 3 kg, respectively) concurrent with edema. Their daily fluid intake and urine output measurements indicated increased total body water levels. DISCUSSION: Although the pathophysiology of refeeding edema is not entirely understood, it is well known that insulin induces sodium retention by increasing distal tubular sodium reabsorption. In our patients, refeeding-induced insulin secretion may be chiefly responsible for the edema and weight gain during the early refeeding period.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1981

NADP-dependent dehydrogenases in rat liver parenchyma. III. The description of a liponeogenic area on the basis of histochemically demonstrated enzyme activities and the neutral fat content during fasting and refeeding.

The activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase(6PGDH), malic enzyme (ME) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDh) were investigated with optimized histochemical methods (Rieder it al 1978), and the activity of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (3HBDH) and neutral fat content with conventional techniques in the liver of male rats under the following experimental dietary conditions: (A) Fasting for 0, 12 and 84h; (B) 84-h fasting followed by refeeding with a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet for 6 h and for 2, 3, 5, 7, 11 and 14 nights; (C) refeeding with standard diet for 5 nights; (D) low-fat high-carbohydrate diet for 7 an 14 nights. The activities of G6PDH, 6PGDH and ME decreased slightly during fasting primarily in zone 1 and increased dramatically on refeeding with a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet. This activity increase was confined mainly to zone 3 during the first 3 days and was accompanied by a deposition of neutral fats that began in zone 3 and progressed to zone 1. Neutral for accumulation was maximal after 3 nights, with a uniform accumulation of large droplets in all the hepatocytes; this was followed by a release that started in zone 3 and proceeded in a periportal direction. On the other hand, G6PDH, 6PGDH and ME attained their maximum activities after 5 amd 7 nights of low-fat diet, the activities being nearly homogeneously distributed over the liver acinus in a few cases. Subsequently the activities fill mainly in zone 1, causing the activity patterns and levels to approach those of the animals in group (D). In contrast to this, the activity of ICDH increased during fasting principally in zone 1, so that the otherwise steep activity gradient in favor of zone 3 lessened. Refeeding led at first to a fall of activity below the initial value, but later the normal distribution pattern was restored. The activity of 3HBDH showed a behavior similar to that of ICDH. The findings are discussed with reference to the functional heterogeneity of the liver parenchyma, and the existence of a liponeogenic area in zone 3 is proposed.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Zonal expression of the glucokinase gene in rat liver. Dynamics during the daily feeding rhythm and starvation-refeeding cycle demonstrated by in situ hybridization.

The abundance and zonal distribution of glucokinase (GK) mRNA were studied in rat liver during a normal 12 h day/12 h night rhythm (dark from 1900 to 0700 hours) and during refeeding after 60 h of starvation. Zonation of GK gene expression was examined by in situ hybridization with a radiolabelled cRNA probe and GK mRNA abundance was determined by Northern blot analysis with a digoxigenin-labelled cRNA probe. GK mRNA appeared to be almost homogeneously distributed throughout the whole daily feeding cycle; yet it was predominantly localized in the perivenous and intermediate zone during refeeding after 60 h of starvation. During the daily feeding rhythm, the total amount of GK mRNA increased quickly with the beginning of the feeding period at 1900 hours reaching a maximum at midnight and then decreased continuously to a basal level at noon. Virtually no GK mRNA was detected after 60 h of starvation. Refeeding caused a rapid increase in GK mRNA to a maximum at 2400 hours followed by a decrease to approximately two-thirds of the maximum value at 0700 hours. If the homogeneous distribution of GK mRNA during the daily feeding rhythm was real rather than apparent because of too low a sensitivity of the cRNA probe, the present results suggest that during the normal circadian cycle the mainly perivenous distribution of GK enzyme activity and protein is regulated preferentially at a translational level. The findings clearly show that during refeeding after 60 h of starvation the GK distribution is controlled predominantly at a pretranslational level.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Expression of hepatic calcium-binding protein regucalcin mRNA is elevated by refeeding of fasted rats: involvement of glucose, insulin and calcium as stimulating factors.

The effect of refeeding on the expression of Ca(2+)-binding protein regucalcin mRNA in the liver of fasted rats was investigated. When rats were fasted overnight, the hepatic regucalcin mRNA level was reduced about 70% of that in feeding rats. Refeeding produced a remarkable elevation of hepatic regucalcin mRNA level (about 150-170% of fasted rats). Liver regucalcin concentration was appreciably increased by refeeding, although it was not altered by fasting. The oral administration of glucose (2 g/kg body weight) to fasted rats caused a significant increase in hepatic regucalcin mRNA level. Moreover, hepatic regucalcin mRNA level was clearly elevated by a single subcutaneous administration of insulin (10 and 100 U/kg) to fasted rats. The hormonal effect was not further enhanced by the simultaneous administration of calcium chloride (250 mg Ca/kg) to fasted rats, although calcium administration stimulated regucalcin mRNA expression in the liver. The present study suggests that the expression of hepatic regucalcin mRNA stimulated by refeeding is significantly involved in the action of insulin and/or calcium as stimulating factors.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

The influence of starvation and natural refeeding on the rate of triacylglycerol/fatty acid substrate cycling in brown adipose tissue and different white adipose sites of the rat in vivo. The role of insulin and the sympathetic nervous system.

Triacylglycerol/fatty acid substrate cycling was measured in vivo in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and white adipose tissue (WAT) of fed, starved and refed rats. Starvation (24h) significantly decreased the rate of cycling in BAT, and refeeding chow diet led to a rapid, 6-fold increase in cycling. Cycling rate in WAT was much lower than in BAT, and was not influenced by fasting or refeeding. Similar rates of cycling were found in epididymal, mesenteric, subcutaneous, and scapular WAT depots. Sympathetic denervation of interscapular BAT abolished the response of the tissue to refeeding, as did acute suppression of insulin secretion. Similarly, rats fasted for 3 days showed no acute increase in the activity of the cycle following refeeding.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1995

Tissue and subcellular distribution of glucokinase in rat liver and their changes during fasting-refeeding.

The distribution of glucokinase in rat liver under both normal feeding and fasting-refeeding conditions was investigated immunohistochemically. Under normal feeding conditions, glucokinase immunoreactivity was observed in both nuclei and cytoplasm of parenchymal cells. The nuclei were stained intensely and evenly, whereas the cytoplasm showed weak immunoreactivity of different degrees of staining intensity depending on the location of the cells. The cytoplasm of perivenous hepatocytes was stained more intensely, though not so much more, than that of periportal hepatocytes. The cytoplasm of hepatocytes surrounding the terminal hepatic venule (THV), of hepatocytes surrounding the portal triad, and of some other hepatocytes showed a stronger immunoreactivity than that of residual hepatocytes. The nuclear immunoreactivity in hepatocytes surrounding the portal triad and in some other hepatocytes was weak or absent, and positive immunoreactivity was detected at the plasma membrane of some of these cells. After 72 h of fasting, glucokinase immunoreactivity was markedly decreased in all hepatocytes. After the start of refeeding, the cytoplasmic immunoreactivity began to increase first in the parenchymal cells surrounding the THV and extended to those in the intermediate zone followed by those in the periportal zone. In contrast, the increase in nuclear immunoreactivity started in hepatocytes situated in the intermediate zone adjacent to the perivenous zone and then extended to those in the perivenous zone followed by those in the periportal zone. Hepatocytes surrounding either THV or portal triad showed a distinctive change in immunoreactivity during the refeeding period. After 10 h of refeeding, strong immunoreactivity was observed in both the cytoplasm and the nuclei of all hepatocytes, and appreciable glucokinase immunoreactivity was detected at the plasma membrane of some hepatocytes. These findings are discussed from the standpoint of a functional role of glucokinase in hepatic glucose metabolism.

Animals↗