Acetate-glucose relationship in growing pigs.

Abstract

Twelve crossbred barrows from four litters (average initial body weight of 21 kg) were used to examine the relationship between acetate and glucose metabolism in pigs. The treatments were the addition of acetate in the form of triacetin to the basal diet at 0, 5 and 10% of the metabolizable energy intake. In the immediate postprandial period, the administered acetate decreased the venous plasma glucose concentration linearly (P less than .05) and increased linearly the venous plasma concentrations of lactate (P less than .01) and ketone bodies (P less than .001). There was a linear increase in the glycogen content of the liver (P less than .001), heart (P less than .001) and femoral muscle (P less than .01), as the level of acetate intake was increased. In the remote postprandial period (12 h after the last meal), glucose, which was considered to have been derived from hepatic glycogen storage, became the dominant blood metabolite in place of the acetate administered with the diet. This led to the reduction in hepatic production of endogenous acetate, arterial acetate concentration and in acetate utilization in the hind limb. Hepatic urea production was also decreased. Thus, there was a reciprocal change in acetate and glucose metabolism.