Gluconeogenesis from lactate in the small intestinal mucosa of suckling rats.

Glucose formation from uniformly labeled 14C-lactate was studied in the small intestinal mucosa of rats and rabbits. It was found to occur in infant but not in adult (weaned) animals and to be increased by the presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP or tetradecyl glycidic acid. Similarly the formation of glyceride glycerol was enhanced by tetradecyl glycidic acid but not by glucagon or cyclic AMP. The glycogen content of the intestinal mucosa was always low, but increased significantly at the time of weaning. It is suggested that gluconeogenesis occurs in the small intestinal mucosa of infant rodents to supply glucose to the muscular part of the small intestine.