Renal gluconeogenesis in eviscerated diabetic rats

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Endocrinology
• Metabolism

Background:

• Evisceration in rats leads to a decrease in blood glucose concentration.
• Renal ligation enhances the fall in blood glucose after evisceration.
• Adrenocortical hormones, with intact kidneys, maintain higher blood glucose levels post-evisceration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of the kidneys in gluconeogenesis and body glucose regulation.
• To examine the effects of epinephrine and cortisol on glucose homeostasis in eviscerated rats.
• To determine the contribution of renal gluconeogenesis to overall body glucose levels.

Main Methods:

• Experiments were conducted on eviscerated rats with intact kidneys.
• Alloxan-diabetic rats were used, with some undergoing adrenodemedullation or complete adrenalectomy.
• Intravenous infusion of lactic acid was administered to assess its effect on glucose levels.

Main Results:

• Epinephrine and cortisol reduced the loss of total body glucose in diabetic rats.
• Lactic acid infusion led to a net positive change in total body glucose in diabetic rats.
• Renal ligation significantly increased the rate of blood glucose disappearance.

Conclusions:

• The kidneys are a significant source of gluconeogenesis, contributing to overall body glucose capacity.
• Interruption of renal gluconeogenesis is a major factor in the increased disappearance of blood glucose after renal ligation in eviscerated animals.
• Both liver and kidneys are essential components in the body's total glucogenic capacity.