Glucose metabolism "in vitro" in brown adipose tissue from pregnant and lactating rats.

(U-14C)Glucose utilization has been studied "in vitro" in brown adipose tissue pieces from virgin, 20-day pregnant and 15-day lactating rats. Brown fat pieces from virgin rats increased their (U-14C)glucose utilization for (14C)CO2 production and for (14C)fatty acid and (14C)glycogen synthesis when insulin was present in the medium. Opposite changes were observed due to the presence of noradrenaline. Brown fat from late pregnant rats does not present any essential alteration in its capacity of metabolizing glucose and showed a pattern of responses to insulin and noradrenaline similar to that from virgins. Brown fat from mid lactating rats showed an intrinsic reduction in (U-14C)glucose utilization for oxidative pathways as well as for fatty acid synthesis, this reduction was present in all hormonal conditions. This data suggests a relationship between the lowered glucose metabolism and the known reduction in brown fat thermogenesis during mid lactation.