The development of hepatic glucokinase in the neonatal rat

Abstract

Glucokinase and hexokinase activities have been determined in the livers of newborn rats and attempts made to influence in vivo the development of the glucokinase. Glucokinase 1st appears in rat liver about 16 days after birth and adult activities are reached 10[long dash]12 days later. Evidence is presented which indicates that this represents synthesis of new protein. Hexokinase activities remain constant throughout the period of glucokinase development. Both exogenous glucose and insulin are necessary for the natural development of glucokinase, for this is retarded in starved and alloxan-diabetic neonatal rats. The absence of glucokinase during the 1st 2 weeks of extrauterine life in the rat is not due to lack of insulin. Attempts to advance the time at which glucokinase first appears by infusions of glucose, insulin and chlorpropamide alone and in various combinations have resulted in marginal effects only. When rats are starved for 3 days during the period of glucokinase development and then re-fed, glucokinase is more rapidly synthesized, indicating that the potential ability to synthesize glucokinase continues to develop throughout the period of starvation. Some possible reasons for the comparatively late development of glucokinase are discussed.