Cellular glucose utilization during hemorrhagic shock in the pig.

To clarify the changes in glucose homeostasis which occur following injury, pigs were subjected to hemorrhagic shock. During shock increased levels of free glucose occurred in red blood cells and muscle tissue, suggesting that inhibition of glucose phosphorylation was occurring. Simultaneously systemic plasma glucose levels were noted to be higher than portal plasma glucose levels while levels of free glucose within the liver fell, indicating that the liver was mobilizing glucose. Plasma insulin and phosphate levels were observed to rise throughout the experiment. From this study it was concluded that the hyperglycemia of injury in these animals was caused by a combination of decreased cellular glucose utilization due to diminished phosphorylation and increased mobilization of glucose by the liver.