STEADY-STATE OXIDATION OF GLUCOSE IN THE DIABETIC RAT

Abstract

The single intraperitoneal injection of a labelled glucose load has been shown to maintain the specific activities of blood glucose and expired CO2at constant levels for extended periods of time. These plateaus have been established in both the fed control and the fed diabetic rat. The results have been interpreted as indicating the existence of a steady state in the labelled system under study.Measurements have been made of rates of oxidation of glucose-1-C14and giucose-6-C14in diabetic and control rats during this steady state between the specific activities of blood glucose and expired CO2. The results indicate no reduction either for the glycolytic or for the phosphogluconate pathway in the diabetic. No change in the ratio between the oxidative rates for the two pathways has been found.