OXIDATION OF GLUCOSE-U-C14 AND PALMITATE-1-C14 BY LIVER, KIDNEY, AND DIAPHRAGM FROM HAMSTERS IN COLD EXPOSURE AND HIBERNATION

Abstract

The percentage of glucose-U-C14 and palmitate-1-C14 converted to C14O2 by tissue slices from golden hamsters exposed to cold, hibernating, and arousing from hibernation was studied. Liver, kidney, and diaphragm were the tissues selected. It was found that liver slices had an increased capacity to oxidize palmitate and a decreased capacity to oxidize glucose to CO2 throughout cold exposure, hibernation, and arousal. Kidney also had an increased oxidation of palmitate at 48 hours of cold exposure, but this declined on cold acclimation. During hibernation, in vitro conversion of both palmitate and glucose to CO2 was reduced. Conversion of palmitate and glucose to CO2 by diaphragm was depressed during hibernation. During arousal, oxidation of glucose by diaphragm was greater than that during hibernation, while oxidation of palmitate did not change. It was concluded that the results did not support a view that there is a preferential catabolization of lipid by all tissues in the cold-acclimated and hibernating hamster.