Effect of litter size on glucose metabolism in rat pup adipose tissue during the suckling period.

Abstract

The effect of milk intake on the glucose tolerance capacity, lipogenesis, ATP citrate lyase and acetyl CoA carboxylase activities in rat adipose tissues during the suckling period was studied. The glucose tolerance capacity in the suckling rats was far lower than that in rats at the age of 5 weeks. However, glucose tolerance capacity in the suckling animals of 4-membered litters at the age of 2 weeks was higher than that in control animals of 8-12 membered litters at the same age. Lipid synthesis, fatty acid synthesis and ATP citrate lyase activity in subcutaneous adipose tissues of animals of 4-membered litters in the suckling period were higher than those of control animals. It was observed that ATP citrate lyase activity in subcutaneous adipose tissues of animals of 4-membered litters in the suckling period were higher than those of control animals. It was observed that ATP citrate lyase activity in adipose tissues during the suckling period was increased by glucose injection alone. These results suggest that the development of the glucose tolerance capacity and the lipogenesis in adipose tissues during the suckling period were influenced by nutritional status as well as chronological age.