Control of glucose metabolism in isolated acini of the lactating mammary gland of the rat. The ability of glycerol to mimic some of the effects of insulin.

Inhibition of glucose uptake by acetoacetate and relief of this inhibition by insulin found previously in slices of rat mammary gland [Williamson, McKeown & Ilic (1975) Biochem. J. 150. 145-152] was confirmed in acini, which represent a more homogeneous population of cells. Glycerol (1mM) behaved like insulin (50 minuits/ml) in its ability to relieve the inhibition of glucose (5 mM) utilization caused by acetoacetate (2 mM) in acini. Both glycerol and insulin reversed the increase in [citrate] and the decrease in [glycerol 3-phosphate] and the [lactate]/[pyruvate] ratio in the presence of acetoacetate. Lipogenesis from 3H2O, [3-14C] acetoacetate, [1-14C]- and [6-14C]-glucose was stimulated, whereas 14CO2 formation from [3-14C]acetoacetate was decreased. Neither insulin nor glycerol relieved the acetoacetate inhibition of glucose uptake when lipogenesis was inhibited by 5-(tetradecyloxy)-2-furoic acid. From measurements of [3-14C]acetoacetate incorporation into lipid in the various situations it is suggested that a cytosolic pathway for acetoacetate utilization may exist in rat mammary gland. In the absence of acetoacetate, glycerol inhibited glucose utilization by 60% and increased both [glycerol 3-phosphate] and the [lactate/[pyruvate] ratio. Possible ways in which glycerol may mimic the effects of insulin are discussed.