CONTRIBUTION OF DIFFERENT ORGANS AND TISSUES OF RAT TO ASSIMILATION OF GLUCOSE

After intravenous injection of glucose, 750 mg/kg, together with a tracer dose of [U-14C] glucose, into fasted, adult white rats, the following percentages of the administered dose were found in whole organs and tissues: 1. after five minutes: skeletal muscle 30.3, skin 28.1, blood 13.1, adipose tissue 10.7, liver 8.9. 2. Forty minutes after injection the corresponding values were: 35.0, 11.1, 5.0, 4.6 and 9.4%. Expired 14CO2 was negligible after five minutes: after 40 min it comprised 8% of the total dose administered. - After intragastric administration of 1500 mg/kg of glucose given with a tracer dose of [U-14C] glucose under the same experimental conditions, the alimentary tract contained, after 15, 90 and 180 min, 60.5, 14.8 and 8.4% respectively of the total 14C dose given. At these times the liver contained 2.9, 10.7 and 15.0%; skin contained 7.5, 7.1 and 5.4%; adipose tissue 2.0, 3.8 and 3.5%, and expired 14CO2 0.4, 11.8 and 31.3% respectively. Details of the uptake of 14C glucose by other organs and tissues are given, and a balance sheet for the injected material is attempted. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.