Effects of infusion of octanoate on glucose concentration in plasma and the rates of glucose production and utilization in dogs.

Abstract

The effects of intravenously administeredsodium octanoate, an 8-carbon saturated fatty acid, on glucose turnover were investigated in 16 healthy dogs by 2 isotope dilution technics: the method of successive measured injections of glucose-U-C14 (14 dogs) and the procedure of priming injection-continuous infusion (2 dogs). The results obtained with both technics were similar. Intravenous administration of octanoate, with or without albumin, in amounts which produced a mean maximal increase of 4.3 mEq./L. in plasma FFA levels decreased significantly plasma glucose concentration by an average of 25 mg./100 ml., and decreased also the rates of plasma glucose appearance (production) and disappearance (utilization) by approximately 30 and 24 per cent of control values, respectively. Furthermore, the intermixing glucose mass was decreased significantly by about 34 per cent of control values during infusion of octanoate in saline. The apparent distribution space of glucose was not altered. The effect on glucose production, primarily the hepatic release of glucose, occurred within 3 minutes of starting the octanoate infusion and was quantitatively greater than the effect on glucose utilization by tissues accounting thereby for the decrements in the intermixing mass and plasma concentration of glucose. The possible mechanisms by which octanoate alters glucose turnover are discussed. Finally, intravenously administered octanoate produced no changes in plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. The effects of intravenously administeredsodium octanoate, an 8-carbon saturated fatty acid, on glucose turnover were investigated in 16 healthy dogs by 2 isotope dilution technics: the method of successive measured injections of glucose-U-C14 (14 dogs) and the procedure of priming injection-continuous infusion (2 dogs). The results obtained with both technics were similar. Intravenous administration of octanoate, with or without albumin, in amounts which produced a mean maximal increase of 4.3 mEq./L. in plasma FFA levels decreased significantly plasma glucose concentration by an average of 25 mg./100 ml., and decreased also the rates of plasma glucose appearance (production) and disappearance (utilization) by approximately 30 and 24 per cent of control values, respectively. Furthermore, the intermixing glucose mass was decreased significantly by about 34 per cent of control values during infusion of octanoate in saline. The apparent distribution space of glucose was not altered. The effect on glucose production, primarily the hepatic release of glucose, occurred within 3 minutes of starting the octanoate infusion and was quantitatively greater than the effect on glucose utilization by tissues accounting thereby for the decrements in the intermixing mass and plasma concentration of glucose. The possible mechanisms by which octanoate alters glucose turnover are discussed. Finally, intravenously administered octanoate produced no changes in plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations.