What do hepatocytes do with lactic acid?

Hepatocytes, which are the main functional cells of the liver, play a critical role in the metabolism of lactic acid. When lactic acid is produced in the body, particularly during anaerobic respiration (such as during intense exercise), it enters the liver where it undergoes conversion back to pyruvic acid. This pyruvic acid can then enter gluconeogenesis, the metabolic pathway through which glucose is synthesized from non-carbohydrate sources.

The conversion of lactic acid to pyruvic acid is essential for the liver to help maintain blood glucose levels, especially during periods of strenuous physical activity or fasting when blood glucose levels may fall. Once the pyruvic acid is formed, it can be further converted into glucose through gluconeogenesis, which can then be released back into the bloodstream to provide a source of energy for other tissues in the body, particularly muscle and brain tissues that rely heavily on glucose for energy.

This metabolic pathway is particularly important in the context of the Cori cycle, which describes the cycle of lactate produced by anaerobic glycolysis in muscles being transported to the liver, where it is converted back to glucose and can then return to the muscles for energy use. This highlights the liver’s pivotal role in managing