Effects of age and fasting on gluconeogenesis from glycerol in dogs

The extent of gluconeogenesis from glycerol was examined in pups and adult dogs. With use of the SAAM-26 program, a four compartment model was formulated from tracer data to calculate the kinetics of the glycerol:glucose system. In the postabsorptive state gluconeogenesis from glycerol declines with age: 13.8% of glucose carbon originated from glycerol in 0- to 4-day-old pups, 6% in adults. Approximately 50% of glycerol carbon is converted to glucose carbon independent of age. During fasting, a) the percentage of glucose carbon arising from glycerol carbon increased to 13.3% and 10.3% in adult dogs and pups 5-19 days old, respectively, in younger pups it declined to 3.4%; b) glycerol production increased in adults, but decreased in the youngest pups; c) glucose production and utilization decreased at all ages, and a smaller percentage of glycerol carbon was converted to glucose carbon, especially in the youngest pups. Thus in neonates fasting decreases gluconeogenesis from glycerol.