Glucose utilization and recycling in ponies.

Variables of glucose metabolism determined by the use of [U-14C]glucose were compared in fed and fasted ponies. Relative recycling of glucose carbon with respect to tritium in fed animals was negligible for 6-T and 3-T and 16% for 2-T studies; in fasted animals relative recycling was 12 and 14% for 6-T and 3-T studies, respectively. Minimal mass of total-body glucose decreased significantly in the fasted ponies. Based on relative recycling of carbon to tritium, a negligible fraction of plasma glucose was produced via the Cori cycle or from glycerol in fed ponies; recycled tricarbon units contributed 12% of glucose produciton in ponies fasted 72 h. In fed ponies, 16% of plasma glucose carbon was recycled via a futile cycle at the glucose 6-phosphate stage. Glucose utilization was best estimated with the use of [6-T]glucose (or 3-T).