GLUCOSE-METABOLISM IN ISOLATED UTERI FROM RESTRICTED-DIET OVARIECTOMIZED AND NON-OVARIECTOMIZED RATS - THE INFLUENCE OF DOPAMINERGIC BLOCKERS

The effects of restricted diet (50% of the normal intake during 25 day s) on the metabolism of U C-14-glucose and tissue glycogen, were explo red in uterine horn strips isolated from intact and ovariectomised rat s. In underfed intact rats, the formation of Co-14(2) was significantl y lower than in their controls, while in castrated rats it remained un changed. Haloperidol, 0.25 mg and sulpiride 2 mg kg(-1) b.w., injected s.c. 15 h (but not 2 h) before killing, only affected castrated rats subjected to dietary restriction, diminishing (CO2)-C-14 production. B romocriptine 7.6 mg kg(-1) injection 1 h before haloperidol, blocked i ts effect. The addition of haloperidol to the KRB medium had no effect on glucose metabolism. The post-incubation levels of glycogen in uter i from intact normal-fed animals diminished significantly in compariso n to 0 time levels values. The glycogen of the uteri from rats subject ed to a dietary restriction did not decline. On the contrary, it dimin ished in ovariectomised rats after incubation, no matter what was the diet. Haloperidol and sulpiride hindered glycogenolysis in castrated r ats receiving a restricted diet. We conclude that in uteri of sprayed rats subjected to dietary restriction there was a dopaminergic mechani sm which led to a glucose metabolism increase.