Vasopressin and phorbol‐12, 13‐dibutyrate inhibit glucagon‐ or cyclic AMP‐stimulated taurocholate uptake in isolated rat hepatocytes

Bile salt uptake by hepatocytes is modulated in part by changes in intracellular cyclic AMP. We studied the effect of activation of protein kinase C on cyclic AMP‐mediated taurocholate uptake in isolated rat hepatocytes. Both dibutyryl cyclic AMP (2 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L) and glucagon (10⁻⁶ mol/L), which increase intracellular cyclic AMP, enhanced the initial uptake rate of taurocholate into hepatocytes, with maximal increases of 45% to 50% over the basal uptake rate. Vasopressin (10⁻⁹ mol/L), a hormone known to activate protein kinase C, and phorbol‐12, 13‐dibutyrate (10⁻⁵ mol/L) significantly inhibited the glucagon‐stimulated increase in taurocholate uptake rate (72% ± 10% and 105% ± 13% inhibition, respectively). Basal (unstimulated) taurocholate uptake rate was not affected by vasopressin or phorbol‐12, 13‐dibutyrate. Down‐regulation of the glucagon‐stimulated transport was rapid and persisted during the 20‐min experimental period. Angiotensin II had a similar but more transient inhibitory effect. Vasopressin and phorbol‐12, 13‐dibutyrate suppression of glucagon‐stimulated taurocholate uptake rate was not accompanied by diminished cyclic AMP levels. Moreover, vasopressin and phorbol‐12, 13‐dibutyrate inhibited dibutyryl cyclic AMP‐stimulated taurocholate uptake rate can be dissociated from alterations in the cyclic AMP levels. (Hepatology 1994;20:159–165.)