Lecture 20 Flashcards
What fuel supplies are normally available in the blood?
Glucose
-preferred fuel source (most glucose stored as glycogen, little free glucose in the blood)
Fatty Acids
-stored as triacylglycerol in adipose
Which cells can’t use fatty acids as fuel?
RBC’s, brain, CNS
What fuel sources are available under special conditions?
Amino acids
-some muscle protein can be broken down (proteolysis) to provide amino acids for fuel
-converted to glucose/ketone bodies
-used directly as a fuel via oxidation
Ketone bodies
-fatty acids converted to ketone bodies in the liver
-used when little glucose available
Lactate
-product of anaerobic metabolism in muscle
-liver can convert it back to glucose (Cori cycle) or utilised as a fuel for TCA cycle
Which hormones determine the availabiliy of fuel molecules in the blood?
Insulin: lowers fuel concentrations in the blood
Glucagon/adrenaline/growth hormone/cortisol (anti-insulin hormones): increase concentrations in blood
Which glucose store can be made available to tissues such as the CNS?
Glucose stored in the liver
What is hypoglycaemia and its symptoms?
Blood glucose <3 mmol/L
Symptoms: trembling, weakness, tiredness, sweating, sickness, tingling around lips, palpitations, changes in mood, slurred speech, staggering walk
(can be confused with intoxication)
Leads to unconsciousness and death as CNS is starved of glucose
What is hyperglycaemia and its symptoms?
Blood glucose >7 mmol/L
Symptoms: nervous/cardio/renal systems affected, glucose in urine, polyuria, polydipsia, increased glycation of plasma proteins such as lipoproteins leading to altered function, abnormal metabolism of glucose to harmful products
What are the effects of feeding?
Absorption of glucose, AA’s, and lipids from gut into bloodstream
Stimulates endocrine pancreas to release insulin
What are the actions of insulin?
- increases glucose uptake and utilisation by muscle/adipose tissue
- promotes storage of glucose as glycogen in liver/muscle
- promotes AA uptake and protein synthesis in the liver/muscle
- promotes lipogenesis and storage of fatty acids as triacylglycerols in adipose tissue
What are the effects of fasting?
As blood glucose concentration falls, insulin secretion is depressed. Reduces uptake of glucose by adipose/muscle and stimulates glucagon secretion
What are the actions of glucagon?
- glycogenolysis in liver to maintain blood glucose for brain and glucose dependent tissues
- lipolysis in adipose tissue to provide fatty acids
- gluconeogenesis to maintain supply of glucose to the brain
When does starvation begin?
Fasting beyond 10 hours
What is the body’s response to starvation?
- blood glucose falls to 3.5 mmol/L and is maintained by glucagon (stimulates breakdown of hepatic glycogen)
- these stores only last a few hours so continuing reduction in glucose stimulates pituitary to release ACTH so blood cortisol is increased
- cortisol stimulates gluconeogenesis and makes gluconeogenic substances available by breakdown of protein and fat
- glucagon also stimulates gluconeogenesis
- both hormones increase amounts and activities of key enzymes in the gluconeogenic pathway in liver cells
- lipolysis occurs at high rate as insulin falls due to rise in lipolytic enzymes (glucagon/cortisol/GH) so free fatty acids rise to 2mmol/L and these are metabolised
- fatty acids are oxidised in the liver to produce ketone bodies which can be used as a fuel for the brain (this reduces the need for gluconeogenesis and spares body protein)
- ketone bodies rise from 0.01 mmol/L to 6-7 mmol/L
What are some gluconeogenic substrates?
Alanine
Glycerol
What is the normal plasma concentration of fatty acids?
0.3 mmol/L
Can fatty acids be used a fuel for the brain?
No, they are attached to albumin so can’t bypass the blood brain barrier
What are 2 vital adaptations to starvation?
- brain becomes able to use ketone bodies as fuel, reducing its glucose requirement from 140g to 40g per day
- kidneys begin to contribute to gluconeogenesis
How does the fact that the brain uses ketone bodies effect gluconeogenesis?
It reduces the need for breakdown of protein for gluconeogenesis so it falls to 30%
-urinary nitrogen excretionfalls from 12 g/day to 4g/day
Why must the protein content of a diet of a starved person be increased gradually?
Reduction in urea synthesis (less proteins broken down, so less ammonia released): decrease in amount and activity of enzymes involved in the process in liver cells
-refeeding syndrome: excess ammonia
What does the body use once all of the fat stores are depleted?
Protein, rapidly used up and death follows shortly
-death due to loss of muscle mass including serious respiratory infections due to loss of respiratory muscles
What is the net weight gain by the end of pregnancy?
8kg
foetus: 3.5kg, placenta:0.6kg, amniotic fluid:0.8kg, maternal fuel stores: 3kg
What is the rate of transfer across the placenta to the foetus dependent on?
Their concentration in the maternal circulation
Why does maternal metabolism channge during pregnancy?
To ensure
- the foetus is supplied with range of nutrients it requires
- nutrients are supplied at the appropriate rate for each stage of development
- minimal disturbances to maternal nutrient homeostasis
- foetus is buffered from any major disturbances in maternal nutrient supply