Perivenous localization of insulin receptor protein in rat liver, and regulation of its expression by glucose and oxygen in hepatocyte cultures

Insulin stimulates glucose utilization in the liver, which occurs mainly in the less aerobic, perivenous, zone. Accordingly, the insulin receptor prot ein was predominantly expressed in this area, although the insulin receptor mRNA was homogeneously distributed. In hepatocyte cultures venous O-2 part ial pressure (pO(2)) induced insulin receptor protein expression. High gluc ose concentrations enhanced insulin receptor protein under arterial and ven ous pO(2). The induction of insulin receptor protein by venous pO(2) would explain its zonated expression.