Metabolite flux across portal-drained viscera, liver, and hindquarters of hyperinsulinemic, euglycemic beef steers.

Metabolic response to i.v., exogenous insulin was characterized in three younger (355 d old, 340 kg BW) and four older (480 d old, 456 kg BW) beef steers. The steers had chronic indwelling catheters to allow measurement of blood flow and net flux of metabolites across portal-drained viscera (PDV), liver, and hindquarters (HQ). Daily N and ME intakes provided at least 1.8 times maintenance requirements. Net flux was measured before and after each steer received intramesenteric infusions of insulin, which ranged from 5 to 80 mU.h-1.kg BW-1, and intrajugular infusion of glucose to maintain euglycemia. Nonlinear fits of data provided predictions of maximal glucose entry (Rmax) for glucose infused, liver glucose release, HQ glucose uptake, and total glucose entry (TGE, sum of glucose infused plus liver release). Differences in BW could account for differences (P < .05) in Rmax for TGE between older steers (688 mmol/h) and younger steers (493 mmol/h). Plasma insulin needed to elicit half-maximal response (ED50) for TGE tended (P < .17) to be greater for older (82 mU/L) than for younger steers (49 mU/L). The decrease in liver glucose release in response to infusion of insulin was greater (P < .01) for older (-170 mmol/h) than younger (-106 mmol/h) steers. The ED50 for liver production of glucose tended (P = .13) to be greater for older (45 mU/L) than for younger (5 mU/L) steers. At 80 mU.h-1.kg BW-1, liver extraction of insulin decreased to approximately 50% of control extraction, and arterial insulin concentration was at least 9.4 times control concentrations. The PDV release and liver removal of L-lactate and propionate were not reduced by insulin infusion, although liver glucose release was 51 and 76% of control for younger and older steers, respectively. We concluded that older steers tended to be less sensitive than younger steers to the effects of insulin on glucose metabolism.