Alteration in zonation of succinate dehydrogenase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase in regenerating rat liver.

Parenchymal activities (mumol . min-1 . g liver-1) and distributions of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase, cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase were studied in regenerating rat liver after two thirds partial hepatectomy. Succinate dehydrogenase activity remained constant with a slight and transient increase for a few hours after operation. The typical periportal localization was changed to an almost even distribution from 8 h to 7 days; it was fully restored after 14 days. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity was increased by 1.8 fold 24 h after surgery; it remained enhanced until about 72 h. The normal periportal to perivenous enzyme gradient was diminished or replaced by a homogeneous distribution between 8 h and 7 days; the zonal heterogeneity was regained after 14 days. Glucose-6-phosphatase activity remained constant after partial hepatectomy. The normal periportal maximum was lost between 4 h and 36 h; the activity became more equally distributed and was even shifted towards the perivenous zone. After 48 h the zonal distribution was reestablished. The results indicate that after partial hepatectomy the gluconeogenic capacity of the liver remnant is increased and that this increase is accompanied by a loss of the normal heterogeneity which is typical for the glucostat function of the organ. They reveal in addition that the three enzymes, representing three different subcellular compartments, change their zonal heterogeneity individually rather than synchronously.