Glucose and fructose utilization in human platelets. Effects of diamide.

In this study we have reported that platelets metabolize fructose more slowly than glucose and probably by a different mechanism. While formed lactate is correlated with glucose utilized, in the presence of fructose an overproduction of lactate was demonstrated. The different behaviour of glucose and fructose was also shown by utilizing diamide at various concentrations. Low diamide concentrations increase glucose consumption, whereas higher concentrations inhibit. Fructose is gradually inhibited by increasing oxidant quantities. Data obtained suggests that diamide interferes with the transport process across platelet membrane. It is likely that glucose and fructose do not share the same transport mechanism. On the other hand only high diamide concentrations inhibit sugar metabolism by acting on the glycolytic flux at the level of some key enzymes.