The effects of pregnancy, lactation and involution on the metabolism of glucose and acetate by rat liver tissue

Abstract

Summary: The incorporation of¹⁴C from [1-¹⁴C] and [6-¹⁴C]glucose and [2-¹⁴C]acetate into CO₂and fatty acids by rat liver slices was measured at intervals during pregnancy, lactation and involution.During late pregnancy, the rates of oxidation of the C-1 and C-6 atoms of glucose were respectively 65 and 40 % higher than those for unmated animals. These increases were maintained during lactation, but the highest values were observed 3 days after weaning. Pregnancy and lactation had little effect on the oxidation of [2-¹⁴C]acetate.The incorporation of¹⁴C from all 3 labelled substrates into fatty acids was increased by a factor of 3–4 during late pregnancy. There were further increases during lactation, and 3 days after weaning the values were as much as 10 times as high as those for unmated animals.The incorporation of both [¹⁴C]glucose and [¹⁴C]acetate into cholesterol was increased by a factor of 6–7 during lactation.The activities of the enzymes glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, ATP citrate lyase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase were also increased during lactation and involution.The similarity between the changes summarized above and those brought about by changes in the pattern of food intake is discussed, and the idea that fatty acids synthesized from non-lipid precursors in the liver may make some contribution to the formation of milk fat is also considered.