Limitation in glucose penetration from the liver into blood and other metabolic symptoms of ethanol withdrawal in rats.

Studies were undertaken to determine whether the distribution of glycolytic intermediates between the blood and liver in rats would be changed upon ethanol consumption and after its withdrawal. More drastic impairment of energy metabolism appeared to occur after ethanol withdrawal than upon chronic ethanol ingestion. The major metabolic manifestations of withdrawal were severe hypoglycemia, hyperlactatemia and dramatic hypopyruvatemia. The liver/blood gradient of glucose attained a value of 4.2 after ethanol withdrawal, suggesting that glucose penetration from the liver into circulation became limited. Besides, glycogen was accumulated in the liver of withdrawn animals despite the severe hypoglycemia.