OXIDATION OF GLUCOSE-U-C¹⁴ AND PALMITATE-1-C¹⁴ BY LIVER, KIDNEY, AND DIAPHRAGM FROM HAMSTERS IN COLD EXPOSURE AND HIBERNATION

Abstract

The percentage of glucose-U-CI4 and palmitate-I-C1a converted to C1402 .by tissue slices from golden hamsters exposed to cold, hibernating, and arousing from hibernation was studied. Liver, kidney, and diaphragm were the tissues selected. It was found that liver slices had an increased capacity to oxidize palmitate and a decreased capacity to oxidize glucose to COz throughout cold exposure, hibernation, and arousal. Kidney also had an increased oxidation of palmitate a t 48 hours of cold exposure, but this declined on cold acclimation. During hibernation, ita vitro co~~version of both palmitate and glucose to COz was reduced. Coi~versio~l of palmitate and glucose to COr by diaphragm was depressed during hibernation. During arousal, oxidation of glucose by diaphragm was greater than that during hibernation, while oxidation of palmitate did not change. I t was concluded that the results did not support a view that there is a preferential catabolization of lipid by all tissues in the cold-acclimated and hibernating hamster.