Regulation of glucose metabolism in rat adrenal gland in alloxan-diabetes: the possible role of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate.

The level of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate is markedly decreased in the rat V.renal gland in diabetes, falling to 23% of the control value. There is parallel decrease in the flux of 14C-labelled glucose through the glycolytic route and tricarboxylic acid cycle. Only minimal changes in hexokinase (EC 2.7.1.1.), a 22% decrease in Type I hexokinase of the soluble fraction, were observed, highlighting the probable significant involvement of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in the regulation of glycolysis in the adrenal. In contrast, there was evidence for a marked rise in the flux of glucose through the pentose phosphate pathway, which may be linked to enhanced corticoid synthesis in the diabetic state.