"In vivo" glutamic acid metabolism in late pregnant rats

Glutamic acid metabolism in 24-hour starved 20-day pregnant and control non-pregnant rats, following intravenously administered [14C]-glutamic acid has been studied. The utilization of glutamate as a gluconeogenic precursor is not increased in late pregnancy under 24-hour starvation and it is regulated by the lower blood substrate availability. In addition, the steady state levels of glutamate, glutamine, aspartate, protein and glucose in blood, liver and skeletal muscle, together with tissue glycogen and lipids and metabolite composition pools, are given for both non-pregnant and pregnant rats.