Lactate-glucose interrelations, glucose recycling and the Cori cycle in normal fed rats.

1. Turnover and oxidation rates of glucose and lactate were determined using a priming dose-continuous infusion of 14C-(u)-glucose and 14C-(U)-lactate in anesthetized and mechanically ventilated non-fasted rats. The rates of glucose-lactate interconversions were computed from the two-compartment model of Depocas and De Freitas (1970). The rate of total glucose recycling is known as the difference between the rate of true glucose turnover measured with 3H-(2)-glucose (RGT) and the rate of apparent glucose turnover measured with 14C-glucose (RG). This value was compared with the Cori cycle. 2. In normal conditions 17% of RG come from lactate, 43% are directed to lactate and 49% are oxidized. 3. 71% of the rate of lactate turnover come from glucose, 28% are directed to glucose and 51% are oxidized. 4. The rate of total glucose recycling (RGT-RG) is 3.7 mg - mn(-1) per kg0.75 and represents 60% of RG or 38% of RGT. 5. The Cori cycle is 0.8 - 1.2 mg - mn(-1) per kg0.75 and represents 8 - 20% of the rate of glucose turnover and 20 - 32% of total glucose recycling.