TISSUE GLUCOSE-TRANSPORT AND GLUCOSE TRANSPORTERS IN SUCKLING RATS WITH ENDOTOXIC-SHOCK

Hypoglycemia occurs without hyperinsulinemia in suckling rats with end otoxic shock, However, tissue glucose uptake during endotoxic shock is not well known in the newborn, GLUT1 is insulin insensitive and is th e predominant glucose transporter in 10 day old rats. In the adult wit h endotoxic shock, noninsulin-mediated glucose uptake and GLUT1 gene e xpression increase. Therefore, we hypothesized that tissue glucose upt ake and GLUT1 mRNA abundance increased in 10 day old rats with endotox ic shock, The present study showed that whole body glucose disposal in creased 3 h after a Salmonella enteritidis lipopolysaccharide injectio n (LD(90) at 72 h). Plasma insulin concentration was not altered. Tiss ue glucose uptake increased in liver (2.4-fold) and fat (2.6-fold). Ho wever, changes of GLUT1 protein concentration were not detected in liv er. GLUT1 mRNA abundance increased in liver (9-fold) and fat (4-fold). GLUT1 mRNA abundance but not glucose uptake increased in muscle. Neit her glucose uptake or GLUT1 mRNA abundance was altered in brain, The m RNA abundance of tissue-specific glucose transporters (GLUT2 and GLUT4 ) was not altered, Thus, tissue glucose uptake and GLUT1 mRNA abundanc e increased without hyperinsulinemia during endotoxic shock in 10 day old rats.