Endocrine Abstracts

Hepatic glucose metabolism is zonated. Glycolysis is mainly localized in hepatocytes surrounding the hepatic vein (pericentral zone) whereas gluconeogenesis is mainly carried out by hepatocytes surrounding the portal vein (periportal zone). Expression of the gene encoding the gluconeogenic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK, PCK1) is reduced upon feeding, an effect mainly controlled by insulin. PEPCK is considered a peri-portal enzyme. However, the differential ef...

Introduction: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used anti-inflammatory medications that cause many metabolic side effects. Long-term treatment with GCs causes obesity and induces insulin resistance in many metabolic tissues, including adipose tissue and muscle. Factors secreted by adipose tissue, so-called adipokines, including leptin and adiponectin, also regulate the glucose-insulin axis. Obesity increases circulating leptin but decreases adiponectin levels. Despite several s...