The effects of hypoglycin on glucose metabolism in the rat. A kinetic study in vivo and [U-14C,2-3H]glucose.

1. The kinetics of glucose metabolism were evaluated in rats deprived of food 15-21 h after the administration of hypoglycaemic doses of hypoglycin (100 mg/kg body wt.) by following changes in the specific radioactivities of 14C and 3H in blood glucose after an intravenous dose of [U-14C,2-3H]glucose [Katz, Rostami & Dunn (1974) Biochem. J. 142, 161-170]. 2. During this time, recycling of glucose through the Cori cycle was virtually abolished, the rate of irreversible disposal of glucose and its total body mass were both decreased by about 70%, whereas there was little effect on the mean transit time for glucose. 3. It was concluded that hypoglycaemia is due to inhibition of gluconeogenesis.