Inhibition of gluconeogenesis by sodium nitroprusside in the perfused guinea pig liver.

Sodium nitroprusside was found to be a very strong inhibitor of the glucose formation from lactate in the perfused guinea pig liver. Hepatic cell respiration and oxidative phosphorylation appeared to be simultaneously suppressed by this compound. The pattern of some hepatic metabolite concentrations was similarly affected by nitroprusside as described for biguanides and pyridinium chloride derivatives. Cyanide had to be added to the perfusion medium in a tenfold higher concentration to achieve a comparable inhibition of gluconeogenesis from lactate.