Carbohydrate metabolism of rats with chronic renal failure

1. Various aspects of carbohydrate metabolism were evaluated in rats exhibiting chronic uremia induced by the surgical removal of 5/6 of the kidneys (NX group). Operated rats developed moderate uremia and maintained a nutritional status similar to that of a sham-operated control group (C rats). 2. After a 12-h fast, the NX group showed a 32% decrease in plasma glucose vs 20% for the C group. 3. After intravenous glucose administration (75 mg/100 mg body weight), plasma glucose and insulin levels were similar in both NX and C rat groups. 4. The decrease in plasma glucose after insulin administration (0.025 U/100 g body weight) was larger in the NX group than in controls. 5. No significant difference was found between the hepatic glycogen levels of NX and C animals although diaphragm muscle glycogen levels in the NX group were nearly twice that of controls. 6. Carcass fatty acid levels in the NX group were 42% lower than in the C group, while total liver lipids were similar for both. 7. These findings suggest that nephrectomized rats exhibit increased sensitivity to exogenous insulin, are not intolerant to intravenous glucose and after a 12-h fast show hypoglycemia that could be related to higher glucose utilization by muscle tissue.