Diet-Dependence of Rat Liver Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Levels

Abstract

The level of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in liver is altered strikingly by starvation and also by refeeding, but the steps by which increased synthesis of this enzyme is induced have not been satisfactorily identified. Recent work suggests that hormones may have a general rather than a specific role. When starved rats were refed diets varying either in amount or in carbohydrate content, their liver glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase increased directly with their carbohydrate intakes. Insulin, and other hormones tested, given without carbohydrate, but with adequate protein and energy intakes, had no effect on liver glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase levels.