STUDIES OF ANTERIOR PITUITARY TISSUE IN VITRO: COMPARISON OF CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM IN GLANDS FROM MALE AND FEMALE RATS.

Abstract

The metabolism of radioactive glucose in vitro has been compared in anterior pituitary tissue (AP) from male and female rats. The pathways leading to the major products of glucose metabolism in AP, CO2, lactate, protein and amino acids, were equally active in the 2 sexes when expressed per unit weight of tissue. The female AP is 1.5-fold heavier than the male AP, however, and therefore the total metabolic activity of the AP is correspondingly greater in females of comparable body weight. Glucose assimilation by AP was increased with increasing concentrations of medium glucose. The fraction of assimilated glucose converted to the various products measured changed as the concentration of medium glucose was increased. At a concentration of medium glucose of 1.0 mg/ml, 24% of assimilated glucose was converted to amino acids, peptides and protein in both sexes. A comparable amount was oxidized to CO2, and much smaller fractions were recovered in glycogen and lipid. Male and female differences in glycogen synth...