Induction of renal phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA: suppressive effect of glucose.

The mRNA for the important gluconeogenic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) (PEPCK; EC 4.1.1.32) is expressed in liver and kidney. In the kidney, acidosis is a unique and potent stimulus, whereas insulin, the major counterregulatory hormone of gluconeogenesis, has no effect. In this study, we find that oral glucose administration to rats rapidly decreases the abundance of renal PEPCK mRNA by 50-72%. This reduction takes place in normal euglycemic, in insulin-induced hypoglycemic, and in streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic diabetic animals. The effect of glucose is not seen in the presence of metabolic acidosis, whether induced by NH4Cl or by prolonged fasting. Therefore, it appears that oral glucose loading is a physiological suppressor of renal PEPCK message abundance, although not in acidosis.