CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM IN LIVER FROM FOETAL AND NEONATAL SHEEP

Abstract

1. During development of the sheep, the activities of UDP-glucose-alpha-glucan glucosyltransferase and UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase and the glycogen content are highest in the liver of lambs 2 weeks old and considerably lower in liver from adult sheep. 2. The activity of hexokinase and the rate of incorporation of [(14)C]-glucose into glycogen are much lower in liver from postnatal sheep than in rat liver. 3. The activities of hexose diphosphatase and glucose 6-phosphatase and the rates of incorporation of [(14)C]pyruvate and [(14)C]propionate into glycogen increase from low levels in the liver of foetal sheep to maxima a few weeks after birth. The activities in the liver of adult sheep are slightly lower. 4. The incorporation rate of [(14)C]pyruvate into glucose has been measured in liver slices from rats, sheep and chick embryos at several ages of these animals. This pathway is active in liver from foetal sheep, embryonic chicks and postnatal rats or sheep, but is absent from the liver from foetal rats. 5. Fructose metabolism, as measured by the rates of incorporation of [(14)C]fructose into glycogen and glucose in liver slices and by assays of liver ketohexokinase, is barely detectable in the liver of foetal sheep and appears soon after birth. 6. During development of the sheep, the incorporation rate of [(14)C]galactose into glycogen in liver slices is highest in foetal sheep and decreases with increasing age of the animal. 7. These findings are discussed with reference to the changing pattern of carbohydrate metabolism during neonatal development of liver in the sheep.