Glucose Oxidation and Glycogen Metabolism in Fluoride-fed Rats

Abstract

Some of the metabolic fates of glucose were investigated in control and fluoride-fed animals. There was no significant difference in the ability of animals ingesting 450 ppm F to oxidize glucose to carbon dioxide. No relationship was observed between fluoride ingestion and the percentage liver glycogen observed, and blood glucose levels were not altered by fluoride ingestion. Radioactive glucose was incorporated into liver glycogen of both intact control animals and into liver slices from control animals at a faster rate and reached a higher level than was observed in the fluoride-fed rats. Glycogenolysis was greater in liver slices prepared from control animals. The extent of glycogenolysis was independent of the pre-incubation glycogen level which was not altered by the dietary treatment. The addition of fluoride to liver slices from control animals had no effect on the degree of glycogenolysis, and it was concluded that fluoride acts to depress the turnover of liver glycogen, in an indirect manner rather than by direct enzyme inhibition.