Gluconeogenesis from Acetone in Diabetic Rats

Summary

Previous investigations have demonstrated that acetone is a true, if minor precursor of glucose in vivo. In diabetic rats 1.30 % of the carbon atoms of circulating glucose arises from acetone, whereas 0.67 % does in normal 3-day fasted animals. Calculated from these fractions and the turnover rate of glucose, 48 μg/kg. min aceton-carbon is converted to glucose-carbon in diabetic and 16 μg/kg. min in normal rats. In both groups of rats the labelling of plasma lactate was stronger than that of glucose. In view of these results we conclude that: (1) the transfer of C-atoms from acetone to glucose increases in diabetes; (2) acetone remains a minor source of glucose even in ketonemic diabetic rats.

Key-Words

Diabetes - Acetone - Gluconeogenesis