Efflux of inorganic phosphate from rat hepatocytes: lack of effect of insulin

Efflux of Pi from rat hepatocytes suspended in phosphate free-medium was studied by chemical assay of released Pi and by monitoring the loss in radioactivity of cells pre-labelled with 32P]-Pi. The release follows first-order kinetics fairly closely with a rate constant of 7 x 10(-3) min-1 approximately. Insulin at a concentration of 10(-8) M had no effect on the rate of Pi release and it is concluded therefore, that the insulin-stimulated accumulation of Pi described in the literature is the result of hormone action on Pi uptake by liver rather than on its release.