Objective and design: Glycolysis and the glucose phosphorylation capacity of livers from arthritic rats were studied because alterations in these parameters are suggested by some studies.
Subjects: Arthritis was induced in male albino rats (Wistar; 180-220 g).
Treatment: The animals were injected with 100 microl heat inactivated Mycobacterium tuberculosis suspended in mineral oil at a concentration of 0.5% (w/v). Animals showing lesions after 14 to 21 days were selected.
Methods: Glucose phosphorylation was measured in the high speed supernatant fraction of liver homogenates and glycolysis in the isolated perfused liver.
Results: The glucose concentration for half-maximal rates was reduced from 18.32+/-5.69 in normal to 9.84+/-3.15 mM in arthritic rats (p = 0.024). Vmax was increased from 8.77+/-0.27 in normal to 11.49+/-0.29 nmol min(-1) mg protein(-1) in arthritic rats (p = 0.001). Perfused livers from arthritic rats showed a 2.43-fold higher rate of glycolysis.
Conclusions: Livers from arthritic rats present a higher glucose phosphorylation capacity. Possibly this phenomenon is caused by circulating inflammatory mediators produced during adjuvant-induced arthritis.