Calcium metabolism in rat hepatocytes.

1. The total calcium concentration in rat hepatocytes was 7.9 microgram-atoms/g dry wt.; 77% of this was mitochondrial. Approx. 20% of cell calcium exchanged with 45Ca within 2 min. Thereafter incorporation proceeded at a low rate to reach 28% of total calcium after 60 min. Incorporation into mitochondria showed a similar time course and accounted for 20% of mitochondrial total calcium after 60 min. 2. The alpha-adrenergic agonists phenylephrine and adrenaline + propranolol stimulated incorporation of 45Ca into hepatocytes. Phenylephrine was shown to increase total calcium in hepatocytes. Phenylephrine inhibited efflux fo 45Ca from hepatocytes perifused with calcium-free medium. 3. Glucagon, dibutryl cyclic AMP and beta-adrenergic agonists adrenaline and 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine stimulated calcium efflux from hepatocytes perifused with calcium-free medium. The effect of glucagon was blocked by insulin. Insulin itself had no effect on calcium efflux and it did not affect the response to dibutyryl cyclic AMP. 4. Incorporation of 45Ca into mitochondria in hepatocytes was stimulated by phenylephrine and inhibited by glucagon and by carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. The effect of glucagon was blocked by insulin. 5. Ionophore A23187 stimulated hepatocyte uptake of 45Ca, uptake of 45Ca into mitochondria in hepatocytes and efflux of 45Ca into a calcium-free medium.