Gluconeogenesis from propionate produced in the colon of the horse

Br Vet J. 1991 Jul-Aug;147(4):340-5. doi: 10.1016/0007-1935(91)90006-9.

Abstract

The production of propionate has been measured in the large colon of two ponies fitted with cannulas and fed on a standard diet of hay or hay and wheat bran. A continuous infusion of 14C-labelled sodium propionate was made into a cannula in the right ventral colon and samples of ingesta were obtained from another cannula near the end of the right dorsal colon. A simultaneous intravenous infusion of [2-3H]-labelled glucose was made to measure total glucose entry. Colonic propionate production on the hay diet was 146 (range 110-176) mg/h per kg body weight and, on the hay and bran, 195 (range 130-273) mg/h per kg body weight. Mean total glucose production for the two diets was 120 (range 98-143) and 92 (range 79-116) mg/h per kg body weight, respectively. The results obtained indicate that 50% of the glucose was synthesized from propionate produced in the colon in ponies on the hay diet and 61% in ponies on the hay and bran diet.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Colon / metabolism*
  • Gluconeogenesis*
  • Horses / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Propionates / metabolism*

Substances

  • Propionates