Developmental Aspects of Glucose and VFA Metabolism in the Germfree and Conventional Ruminant

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Abstract
A comparative study of various parameters of carbohydrate and volatile fatty acid (VFA) metabolism between conventional and germfree goats was conducted. Glucose and acetate tolerance half-lives and plasma glucose levels were determined in animals (ranging from 50 to 180 days of age) fed a basal milk ration supplemented with either glucose or VFA salts. In addition, hepatic activities of glucose-6-phosphatase, pyruvate kinase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and hepatic levels of glucose-6-phosphate, phosphoenolpyruvate, and free amino acids were determined for these animals. Differences between the gnotobiotic and conventional goats, in any of these parameters could not be demonstrated. Regardless of germfree status and diet, the older goats had lower plasma glucose levels and longer glucose and acetate tolerance half-lives. A significant correlation coefficient between hepatic pyruvate kinase activity and glucose T½(r= −.69, P<.05) was demonstrated in this study. The alanine cycle for gluconeogenesis could not be demonstrated. These results indicate that the plasma glucose and glucose T½ decline in the goats was independent of the quantity of hexose absorbed from the small intestine. The results further suggest that the changes in the pattern of energy metabolism in ruminants are not causally dependent on rumen development and VFA production. Copyright © 1974. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1974 by American Society of Animal Science.

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