Gluconeogenesis during hibernation and arousal from hibernation

Abstract

1. 1. In the ground squirrel, Citellus tridecemlineatus, liver glycogen and blood glucose decreased during hibernation. Two hours after arousal, liver glycogen remained low but blood glucose was normal. 2. 2. When incubated at 6°C, kidney cortex slices from hibernating animals had a greater capacity for gluconeogenesis from α-ketoglutarate, l-glutamate, l-aspartate, glycerol, oxaloacetate, l-lactate and pyruvate than renal tissue from normothermic squirrels. At 40°C, glucose synthesis from l-aspartate, glycerol, l-lactate, oxaloacetate and pyruvate was significantly increased in renal tissue from hibernating and arousing animals. 3. 3. Hibernation and arousal were associated with significantly increased hepatic and renal lactic dehydrogenase and hepatic glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase activities but glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-diphosphatase activities remained unchanged. 4. 4. The role of gluconeogenesis during hibernation and arousal is discussed.