A comparative study of glucose metabolism between the camel ( Camelus dromedarius) and the sheep ( Ovis aries)

Abstract

1. 1. Glucose entry rate was measured in two camels ( Camelus dromedarius) and two sheep ( Ovis wies) in the fed state and also after 72 hr of fasting. 2. 2. Plasma glucose concentration in the fed camels (129 mg/100 ml) was considerably higher than that of the fed sheep (63 mg/100 ml). 3. 3. The mean glucose entry rate in the fed camels (1.67mg/min per kg body wt) was very similar to the sheep (1.79 mg/min per kg body wt). 4. 4. When the results were expressed as a function of the metabolic body size, the entry rates in the camel were 1.5 times greater than that of the sheep. 5. 5. The relationship between glucose entry rate and plasma glucose concentration in different mammalian species is discussed.