Absence of significant rates of gluconeogenesis in intestinal mucosa of starved guinea pigs.

Abstract

Homogenates of jejunal mucosa from 72 h fasted guinea pigs showed glucose production rates of 3–4 μmoles·h−1·g−1 wet weight under the conditions recommended in the literature (IDP present). However, we found no incorporation of the gluconeogenic precursors lactate, pyruvate or alanine in glucose. Further results led to the conclusion that glucose was formed from nucleotides, added to the homogenates. Isolated intact epithelial cells showed a very low rate of glucose production, suggesting only a low contribution of intestinal mucosa to whole body gluconeogenesis in starved guinea pig.