MESENTERIC ARTERIOVENOUS DIFFERENCES IN GLUCOSE, LACTATE AND INSULIN CONCENTRATIONS IN RATS AND HUMANS

The present study was aimed to investigate the mesenteric arteriovenou s differences in blood glucose and lactate and plasma insulin in human s (n = 8) and rats (n = 10). Arterial (abdominal aorta) and mesenteric vein blood glucose and lactate (enzymatic methods) and plasma insulin concentrations (radioimmunoassay) were measured in patients during ab dominal surgery and in normal rats. Blood glucose levels were signific antly (p < 0.05) higher in the abdominal aorta than in the mesenteric vein in both rats (9.2 +/- 1.0 vs 7.5 +/- 0.8 mmol/l) and humans (10.4 +/- 2.9 vs 8.5 +/- 2.7 mmol/l). Blood lactate levels were higher (p < 0.05) in the mesenteric vein in both rats (3.7 +/- 1.3 vs 2.8 +/- 0.9 mmol/l) and humans (0.7 +/- 0.23 vs 0.1 +/- 0.05 mmol/l). Plasma insu lin concentrations were identical in the aorta or mesenteric vein in b oth rats (314.4 +/- 162.0 vs 311.4 +/- 94.2 pmol/l) and humans (62.4 /- 43.2 vs 61.8 +/- 48.0 pmol/l). In conclusion, both rat and human in testine retained a high proportion of arterially administered glucose and released lactate under the studied conditions.