AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 240, Issue 2 88-E94, Copyright © 1981 by American Physiological Society
Effect of maternal canine starvation on fetal and neonatal liver metabolism
E. L. Miettinen
Heptic glycolytic and gluconeogenic intermediates from fasted newborns of
five control and five 3-day starved canine mothers (MCS) were studied at 0,
3, 6, 9, and 24 h of age. MCS did not affect fetal hepatic glycogen
concentration; however, a significant increase in uridine diphosphate
glucose (UDPG) (0.186 vs. 0.106 mumol/g), fructose 6-phosphate (0.084 vs.
0.034), pyruvate (0.321 vs. 0.126), and citrate (0.190 vs. 0.140)
concentrations occurred. At 3 h, the intrahepatic glucose concentration
among the MCS newborns declined (3.09 vs. 6.34) and remained lower than the
controls for up to 9 h. UDPG concentration, however, remained elevated
throughout the 24 h. In addition intrahepatic pyruvate was significantly
elevated in the MCS group. Elevated phosphoenolpyruvate concentrations were
observed between 3 and 6 h. Malate levels were lower than controls between
6 and 9 h and alpha-ketoglutarate was significantly higher between 6 and 24
h. Calculated cytoplasmic NAD/NADH ratio was elevated throughout the 24 h.
Hepatic triglycerides were higher than controls up to 9 h. A decline in
hepatic triglycerides was observed between 9 and 24 h. The results suggest
increased glycolysis and suppressed gluconeogenesis in the MCS puppies,
probably because of increased triglyceride synthesis and decreased free
fatty acid oxidation resulting in a lack of cytoplasmic NADH.
