GALACTOSAMINE ALTERS GLUCOSE REGULATION IN 10-DAY-OLD RATS TREATED WITH A LOW-DOSE OF ENDOTOXIN

Hypoglycemia developes rapidly during septic shock and is a common and life-threatening problem in the human newborn. In adult animals, gala ctosamine alter glucose metabolism and increases mortality of endotoxi c shock. Galactosamine may alter tissue glucose uptake and induce hypo glycemia in ten-day-old rats. The present study showed that galactosam ine induced hypoglycemia and a high mortality without an increase in p lasma insulin concentration in ten-day-old rats treated with a low dos e of endotoxin. Galactosamine decreased tissue glucose uptake in endot oxin-treated animals. Hypoglycemia induced by galactosamine could be d ue to decreased gluconeogenesis.