Role of PPARα in Hepatic Carbohydrate Metabolism

Tight control of storage and synthesis of glucose during nutritional transitions is essential to maintain blood glucose levels, a process in which the liver has a central role. PPARα is the master regulator of lipid metabolism during fasting, but evidence is emerging for a role of PPARα in balancing glucose homeostasis as well. By using PPARα ligands and PPARα (−/−) mice, several crucial genes were shown to be regulated by PPARα in a direct or indirect way. We here review recent evidence that PPARα contributes to the adaptation of hepatic carbohydrate metabolism during the fed-to-fasted or fasted-to-fed transition in rodents.