Pancreatectomy in rats: onset of metabolic changes in liver, adipose, and diaphragm

¹ Department of Physiology, University of California, Berkeley, California

The time of onset of metabolic alterations in utilization of C¹⁴-labeled glucose and acetate by liver and adipose tissue, and in uptake of glucose by diaphragm was studied in "totally" depancreatized rats, a preparation in which severe manifestations of diabetes develop rapidly. The earliest changes were observed in glucose utilization by liver and adipose tissue. Two hours after pancreatectomy, conversion of glucose carbon to a) fatty acids, glycogen, and CO₂ by liver slices and b) fatty acids and CO₂ by adipose tissue was depressed. Defective utilization of acetate appeared earlier in adipose tissue than in liver. A decrease in the liver's capacity to convert acetate carbon to fatty acids developed some time between 4 and 14 hr after pancreatectomy. In adipose tissue this occurred between 2 and 4 hr. Defective uptake of glucose by diaphragm was observed later after pancreatectomy, some time between 4 and 14 hr. The results are discussed from the standpoint of the nature of metabolic lesions in the diabetic liver and of whether insulin has a direct or indirect action on hepatic tissue.