HEPATIC HANDLING OF AN ORAL GLUCOSE-LOAD IN SUCKLING AND WEANED RATS

Changes in the net balance of glucose and lactate across the intestine and liver have been studied in 15-day-old suckling and 25-day-old wea ned rats over 60 min following an oral glucose load. The intestinal ba lance of suckling rats showed a net release of glucose that accounted for 80% of the oral load. By contrast, weaned animals showed a nil glu cose balance. The hepatic balance of suckling rats switched rapidly fr om glucose output to glucose uptake following the oral glucose load, a nd this was associated with a net glycogen deposition. In weaned anima ls there was a net glucose release by the liver. The liver of 15-day-o ld suckling rats is able to extract glucose from the blood when circul ating levels are raised under physiological circumstances, as well as the ability to synthesize glycogen.