Effect of ethanol treatment on gluconeogenesis in glucose-intolerant rats- DOI: 10.4025/actascihealthsci.v31i2.4653

Abstract

In this work, the influence of ethanol (Et) treatment on gluconeogenesis in glucose-intolerance rats was evaluated. Glucose intolerance in rats was induced by dexamethasone (DEXA) injection (0.1 mg kg^-1; s.c., 4 days). The glucose tolerance test (GTT) and liver perfusion in situ experiments (gluconeogenesis evaluation) were performed with 15-hour fasted rats in the following experimental groups: Control (saline 0.9%, s.c., 4 days); DEX (DEXA 0.1 mg kg^-1; s.c., 4 days); DEX+Et 3% (per os, 14 days); DEX+Et 20% (per os, 14 days); DEX+Met (Metformin 300 mg kg^-1, per os, 4 days). DEX-treated animals showed high glucose concentration in blood and also in the perfusate collected. Metformin treatment resulted in a significant reduction in the concentration of perfusate glucose in intolerant animals. However, only the Et 3% treatment reduced glucose intolerance, but not glucose hepatic production observed in DEX animals. Data showed that Et 3% administration improves glucose intolerance induced by DEX without influence on gluconeogenesis, unlike the result observed with Metformin treatment.