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Upregulation of Glucose Production by Increased Dietary Protein in the Adult Cat ( Felis catus )
Author(s) -
Wester Timothy J.,
Weidgraaf Karin,
Hekman Margreet,
Bequette Brian J.,
Cave Nicholas J.,
Tavendale Michael H.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.792.18
Subject(s) - cats , gluconeogenesis , medicine , amino acid , endocrinology , endogeny , carbohydrate , catabolism , chemistry , biology , metabolism , biochemistry
Domestic cats are strict carnivores with a high requirement for protein, from which they derive their energy and glucose needs. Shuttling of amino acid carbon through glucose may also increase utilization of amino acids that are normally oxidized as protein intake increases. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of dietary protein intake on endogenous glucose production in the cat. Eighteen cats from the colony at the Centre for Feline Nutrition at Massey University were fed one of three low carbohydrate diets containing 15, 45, or 65% of their metabolizable energy as crude protein. After 3 weeks, cats were administered a primed continuous infusion of [U‐ 13 C] glucose for 5 hours and blood was sampled. Mass isotopomer distribution analysis of plasma glucose was used to determine glucose production. Endogenous glucose production from all sources was 1.2‐ and 1.3‐times greater in cats fed 45 and 65% crude protein compared to those fed 15% crude protein ( P < 0.05). Contribution of the Cori cycle to gluconeogenesis was not different among diets and averaged 32.6 ± 1.41%, whereas non‐Cori cycle flux of endogenous glucose production (net gluconeogenesis) was greater in cats fed 45 and 65% (1.92 vs 2.29 and 2.47 g glucose × kg BW −1 × d −1 , P < 0.05). Increased gluconeogenesis in cats fed high protein diets suggests that part of the increased rate of amino acid catabolism and oxidation in these cats is the result of increased amino acid carbon cycling through glucose. Support or Funding Information Research funding was provided by the Animals and Society Research Fund, BRCSRA.