9.2 Metabolic and endocrine control during special circumstances Flashcards
what fuel sources are usually available in blood?
glucose
fatty acids
How much glucose is usually freely available?
roughly 12g
why is glucose the preferred fuel source over fatty acids?
fatty acids cannot be used by RBCs, Brain and CNS
Ketone bodies are produced as a by product of fatty acid metabolism
what fuel sources are used under special circumstances?
amino acids
ketone bodies
lactate
apart from glucose, what other fuel sources can the brain metabolise?
ketone bodies
how is lactate produced?
As a product of anaerobic metabolism in muscle
what is the function of lactate in the body?
Liver can convert back to glucose (Cori cycle) or can be utilised as fuel source for TCA cycle in other tissues (e.g. heart)
what are the 3 major energy stores?
glycogen
fat
muscle protein
how much glycogen is available in the body?
roughly 400g
where is glycogen made and stored?
liver and muscle
when is glycogen produced?
when glucose is in excess in the blood
when is fat produced as an energy store?
Made from glucose and dietary fats when in excess
Stored as triacylglycerol in
adipose tissue
when is muscle protein used as a fuel source?
in emergency, not used in healthy people.
why is it important to have energy stores in the body?
- Food is consumed episodically leading to intermittent supply
- Absorbed nutrients are sometimes available in excess and sometimes unavailable (feed/fasting cycle, starvation)
- Body needs to be able to draw upon long and short term energy stores to maintain energy supply to tissues
what sources of energy are first utilised after feeding?
2 hours after feeding glucose and fat available from the gut.
• Immediate metabolism supported by glucose
• Speed up growth and repair processes
• Make glycogen as rapidly as possible
• Increase fat stores
After 2 hours after feeding, glucose and fats are no longer being absorbed from the gut. what is the next source of energy?
• Maintain blood glucose by drawing on glycogen stores
• Support other metabolic activity with fatty acids
released from stores
• Preserve blood glucose for brain
After glycogen stores in liver have been depleted ( 8 to 10 hours after feeding ) what energy sources are used?
Need to make more glucose for brain from amino acids, glycerol & lactate by gluconeogenesis
Continue to support other metabolism with fatty acids
what energy stores are mobilised during starvation?
- Fatty acid metabolism produces ketone bodies
* Brain becomes able to metabolise ketone bodies (reduces need or glucose)
what are anabolic hormones?
hormones that promote fuel storage such as insulin and growth hormone
what are catabolic hormones?
Hormones that promote release from stores & utilisation • Glucagon • Adrenaline • Cortisol • Growth hormone (increases lipolysis & gluconeogenesis) • Thyroid hormones
what metabolic processes does insulin inhibit?
- Gluconeogenesis
- Glycogenolysis
- Lipolysis
- Ketogenesis
- Proteolysis
what metabolic processes does insulin stimulate?
- Glucose uptake in muscle and adipose (GLUT 4).
- Glycolysis
- Glycogen synthesis
- Protein synthesis
what effect does feeding have on insulin?
Increase in blood glucose stimulates pancreas to release insulin.
• Increases glucose uptake and utilisation by muscle and
adipose (GLUT 4)
• Promotes storage of glucose as glycogen in liver and muscle.
• Promotes amino acid uptake and protein synthesis in liver and muscle.
• Promotes lipogenesis and storage of fatty acids as triacylglycerols in adipose tissue.
what is the effect of fasting on glucose metabolism?
Blood glucose falls & insulin
secretion depressed.
• Reduces uptake of glucose by adipose and muscle.
• Low blood glucose stimulates glucagon which stimulates:
• Glycogenolysis in the liver to maintain blood glucose for
brain and other glucose dependent tissues.
• Lipolysis in adipose tissue to provide fatty acids for use by tissues.
• Gluconeogenesis to maintain supplies of glucose for the brain.
what hormones are produced when blood glucose levels are low?
cortisol from the adrenal cortex
glucagon from pancreas
what do most cells not use glucose during energy starvation?
Reduction in insulin & anti-insulin effects of cortisol prevent most cells from using glucose & fatty acids are preferentially metabolised. This allows the depleting glucose levels to be used by cells that cannot use fatty acids as a fuel source such as the brain, CNS and RBCs.