Muscle glyconeogenesis during recovery from a prolonged swim in rats

Glyconeogenesis in muscle was assessed during a 3-h recovery period after prolonged submaximal exercise represented by a 4-h swim. Rats fasted for 12 h and previously catheterized underwent this protocol with the concomitant infusion of [6-3H]glucose and one of the following: 1) [14C]bicarbonate, 2) [U-14C]lactate, and 3) [1-14C]glucose. Rested rats served as controls. The incorporation of 14C label ([14C]bicarbonate and [U-14C]lactate) or its transfer to the sixth position of glucosyl units of glycogen, over and above that taken up from circulating glucose (and determined from [6-3H]glucose uptake), was used as an index of muscle glyconeogenesis. 14C from 14CO2 is not expected to be incorporated into glycogen in muscle, and any incorporation that is not from circulating glucose is used to define experimental error. [14C]lactate incorporation measures equilibration with circulating lactate, and label randomization in glucosyl units beyond that seen in plasma glucose is taken as evidence of glyconeogenesis from locally accumulated glycolytic products. The results of these studies demonstrate 1) no glyconeogenesis in the soleus; 2) in the red and white gastrocnemii, glyconeogenesis takes place only from glycolytic products within the muscle. Approximately 35-40% of the [6-14C]glucose in glycogen can only be accounted for by muscle glyconeogenesis. The substrate does not equilibrate with circulating lactate to a detectable extent. 3) Glyconeogenesis appears to persist throughout the recovery period and uses substrate at the level of pyruvate. This is consistent with a continuing elevation of glycolysis during this period.