Roles of Glucose and Its Interactions with Acetate in Maintenance and Biosynthesis in Bovine Mammary Tissue

Mammary gland tissues from three lactating Holstein cows were sampled and slices incubated with various concentrations of glucose and in combinations with other substrates in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate-based media. Conversions of 1-and 2-carbon-14 glucose to carbon dioxide, lactose, glyceride-glycerol, citrate, and fatty acids were determined. Glucose utilization increased asymptotically with glucose availability. Carbon dioxide, lactose, and glyceride glycerol production accounted for nearly 90% of glucose recovered. Only trace quantities of glucose were recovered as fatty acids. Estimates of apparent affinities for glucose use were in a physiological concentration range of glucose. Oxidation of glucose was positively correlated with availability of acetate. Acetate availability increased the ratio of 1-carbon-14 glucose to 2-carbon-14 glucose oxidation and decreased glucose conversion to fatty acids. Glucose conversion to glyceride-glycerol was not affected by acetate availability. Primary uses of glucose are in lactose and glyceride glycerol synthesis and formation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate for lipogenesis. Extensive use of glucose for these purposes may limit amounts available for fatty acid synthesis.