The assimilation of glucose and galactose in the liver

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Abstract
The livers of fasting rats, and of those fed with glucose or with galactose. were analyzed for glucose, galactose, glycogen, glucose-1-phosphate, galactose-1-phosphate and reducing phosphoric ester (mainly glucose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate). In the livers of fasting rats reducing phosphoric esters and a small quantity of glucose-1-phos-phate (0.09 mg. P/100 g.) were present. Further, there was evidence of the presence of a compound which was probably not a phosphoric ester and which yielded reducing substances on acid hydrolysis. In fasted rats, but not in fed ones, there was a very close direct relationship between the glycogen and glucose contents of the livers. In the livers of rats fed with glucose there was an increase in the reducing phosphoric ester and glucose-1-phosphate (+0.11 mg. P/100 g.) levels. During the assimilation of galactose the livers contained galactose-1-phosphate (0.41 mg. P/100 g.). Glucose-1-phosphate was present in quantities similar to those found after glucose adm., the ratio, glucose-1-phosphate formed to galactose-1-phosphate, being approx. 1/3.5. The livers contained less glucose and slgihtly more reducing phosphoric esters than those of glucose-fed rats. There was a high correlation between the glucose and reducing phosphoric ester levels, which was absent in glucose-fed animals. The significance of these findings for the mechanism of the conversion of galactose to glucose is discussed.

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