The intercellular glutamine cycle occurs in the liver around the central vein and the periportal cells. The importance of the reactions and the period is the balance between the alkaline and basic blood pH by the presence of excess ammonia or amino acids
The cells in this periportal area contain glutaminase and are in contact with blood coming from skeletal muscle.
The cells of the perivenous area represent 5% of parenchymal cells and contain glutamine