EFFECT OF MILD COLD-EXPOSURE ON WHOLE-BODY AND NET HINDQUARTERS GLUCOSE-METABOLISM IN SHEEP

Isotope dilution using [U-C-13]glucose was combined with measurement o f hindquarters arteriovenous difference and blood flow to examine the effect of mild cold exposure on whole-body and net hindquarters glucos e metabolism in sheep. Determinations were carried out in a thermoneut ral environment (20 +/- 1 degrees C) and on day 5 of mild cold exposur e (4 +/- 1 degrees C). Whole-body blood glucose turnover rate was 1.56 and 1.91 mg kg(-1) min(-1) in the thermoneutral environment, and duri ng mild cold exposure, respectively. Net hindquarters glucose uptake w as 0.79 and 1.19 mg kg(-1) min(-1), corresponding to 50 and 61% of who le-body turnover rate, respectively. These results suggest that in she ep the contribution of glucose uptake by the hindquarters tended to in crease during mild cold exposure, even though whole-body blood glucose turnover rate did not increase significantly. Copyright (C) 1997 Else vier Science Inc.