Glycerol metabolism in the pregnant and virgin rats

The parameters of in vivo glycerol kinetic curves were determined after a single injection of glycerol-1-14 C in pregnant and in virgin rats. The half-life of glycerol was found to be 9 min in pregnant rats and 17 min in virgin rats. There was no significant difference between the absolute turnover rates. The glycerol plasma space cannot be appreciated. The distribution volume expressed in milliliter of plasma appeared to be very high indicating that glycerol was not distributed only in the plasma. Glycerol was found to be a precursor of glucose and this conversion seemed to proceed more rapidly in the pregnant rat than in the virgin rat.