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Glucose production and utilization in non-pregnant, pregnant and lactating ewes
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 March 2007
Abstract
1. By using continuous infusions of 3H- and 14C-labelled substrates, three-pool models, incorporating rumen propionate, plasma glucose and blood carbon dioxide were constructed to determine the contribution of propionate to glucose in non-pregnant, pregnant (mid and late) and lactating hill ewes.
2. Although the intakes of non-pregnant and pregnant ewes were the same (1200 g driedgrass/d) and resulted in similar levels of propionate production (33 g C/d), glucose production rate (GPR) increased from 44 g C/d in the non-pregnant ewes to 62 g C/d in the ewes carrying twins in late pregnancy. In lactating ewes given 2500 g dried grass/d, propionate production increased to 56 g C/d and GPR increased to 93 and 104 g C/d in ewes suckling single and twin lambs respectively.
3. There was an increase in the percentage of the propionate resource which was diverted to glucose, from 37% in the non-pregnant ewes and ewes in mid-pregnancy, to 55% in late pregnancy and 60% in lactation. In spite of this apparent metabolic adaptation to the additional requirements for glucose, approximately 55% of the glucose-C was supplied by metabolites other than propionate and CO2.
4. From the determination of plasma glycerol concentrations it was estimated that themaximum possible contribution of glycerol-C to glucose was only 8–12 g C/d. Theremaining 40% of the glucose-C could not be accounted for and could have been derived from non-essential amino acids (NEAA).
5. In the non-pregnant and pregnant ewes only 62% of the GPR was oxidized to CO2. In the lactating ewes only 49 and 30% of the GPR was oxidized to CO2 in the ewes suckling single and twin lambs respectively.
6. In the majority of cases there was a marked similarity between the amounts of glucose-C apparently derived from NEAA and the amount of glucose-C which was not oxidized to CO2.
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- Papers on General Nutrition
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- Copyright
- Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1983
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