Abstract
To assess the role of the liver in glucose (G) metabolism, we studied G flux across the liver in 7 fetal lambs (118-123 days) 2-5 days after catheterization of descending aorta (AO), inferior vena cava (IVC), umbilical vein (UV), portal vein (PV), and right (RHV), left (LHV), or both hepatic veins. Blood flow to each liver lobe from hepatic artery, UV and PV were measured by injections of microspheres into IVC, PV, and UV. G concentrations were measured in all sites and G consumption (VG) was measured by the Fick method. Studies were done before and during maternal hypoxemia. G concentrations (mg/dl) were:
In C, RHV and LHV glucose are similar to UV G, and the liver is in zero G balance; with hypoxia, HV G rises rapidly above UV G, indicating release of glucose, presumably by glycogenolysis, from L and R liver lobes. VG uptake in placenta and liver were:
Glucose production by the liver is important in meeting increased fetal needs for anaerobic energy substrate during hypoxia.
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Bristow, J., Rudolph, A., Barnes, R. et al. 1102 HEPATIC GLUCOSE METABOLISM AND GLYCOGENOLYTIC RESPONSE TO HYPOXIA IN FETAL LAMBS. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 626 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01128
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01128