HYPERGLYCEMIA PER SE CAN REDUCE PLASMA-FREE FATTY-ACID AND GLYCEROL LEVELS IN THE ACUTELY INSULIN-DEFICIENT DOG

To evaluate the in vivo effect of hyperglycemia per se on plasma free fatty acid (FFA) and glycerol concentrations, euglycemic and hyperglycemic clamp studies were performed in six overnight fasted dogs in the state of insulin deficiency produced by somatostatin (SRIF) infusion. The mean blood glucose concentrations during the steady-state (the second hour of each study) averaged 4.65 ± 0.10 mmol/L in euglycemic clamp and 14.11 ± 0.10 mmol/L in hyperglycemic clamp. During the SRIF infusion, plasma FFA concentrations increased from 0.32 ± 0.05 μmol/mL at the basal state to 0.76 ± 0.04 μmol/mL at the steady-state in euglycemic clamp and from 0.26 ± 0.04 μmol/mL to 0.43 ± 0.02 μmol/mL in hyperglycemic clamp. Plasma glycerol concentrations increased from the basal value of 0.07 ± 0.01 μmol/mL to 0.15 ± 0.01 μmol/mL during the steady-state in euglycemic clamp and from 0.06 ± 0.01 μmol/mL to 0.08 ± 0.01 μmol/mL in hyperglycemic clamp. The steady-state concentrations of plasma FFA and glycerol in hyperglycemic clamp were significantly lower than those in euglycemic clamp (P < .001; respectively). These results suggest that hyperglycemia per se might decrease plasma FFA and glycerol concentrations at least in part by decreasing lipolysis in the acutely insulin-deficient dog. © 1990.