Hepatic sympathetic denervation potentiates glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis and hyperinsulinaemia in the rat

Liver denervation affects hepatocyte mitochondrial fatty acid transport capacity

“…A reduction of around 80% in NA content has been generally accepted as sufficient to ensure a study of the influence of the sympathetic system in the organ. 34,36 Both the control levels of NA found presently in the organ, as well as the percentage by which they are reduced after denervation are thus in accordance with previous findings. 11,37 The weight of the animals was not affected by liver denervation, also in agreement with earlier studies.…”

“…The model of chemical denervation herein adopted caused a decrease of 87% in the concentration of noradrenalin in the liver. A similar reduction was obtained by Lindfeldt et al 34 with microsurgery, and by Wheatley et al 32 with 6-OH-DA intraportal administration. The phenol application method has been adopted in many studies, as reviewed in references 16 and 35.…”

Influence of peri-arterial hepatic denervation on the glycemic response to exercise in rats

“…Nevertheless, a possible additive contribution of hepatic sympathetic nerves to other control mechanisms, like glucagon, cannot be excluded. For example, it is possible that the efficacy of glucagon is potentiated by peri-arterial liver denervation [9], which might account for a compensation for the reduced stimulatory effect of the sympathetic liver nerves in the present study. Such compensatory mechanisms have been described in other situations, e.g.…”

“…Furthermore, another study has shown that electrical stimulation of the sympathetic nerves to the liver results in transition of the inactive phosphorylase complex to the active state and, consequently, in increased blood glucose levels [16]. On the other hand, a number of studies have revealed that hepatic denervation fails to diminish hepatic glucose mobilization under different circumstances, such as exercise and insulin-induced hypoglycemia [8][9][10]17,21]. These data seemingly suggest that the physiological significance of the sympathetic hepatic nerves on peripheral glucose metabolism is negligible.…”

Hepatic lipase activity after liver denervation in hypothyroid rats

“…The hepatic vagus branch (originating from the ante¬ rior trunk) was divided in the lesser omentum; the con¬ comitant artery was spared (12). When present, the small hepatic branch, connected to the pyloric branch of the anterior vagus, was also divided.…”