ABSTRACT
The liver is known to play an important role in the disposal of a glucose load, but exact measurements of the liver’s contribution in humans is hampered by methodological and ethical concerns regarding portal vein blood sampling under most conditions. Human studies using splanchnic balance measurements and tracer techniques indicate that the liver disposes approximately 25-35% of an oral glucose load (Ferrannini et al., 1985; Mari et al., 1994). Direct assessment of net hepatic glucose uptake (NHGU) during oral or enteral delivery of glucose in the dog has yielded data remarkably consistent with estimates from the human (Ishida et al., 1983; Moore et al., 1991). The canine liver accounted for the disposition of 25-40% of the administered glucose, with the exact percentage being largely determined by the load of glucose and insulin reaching the liver.
