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Single glucose doses of 0.5 g/kg body weight or 1.0 g/kg were intravenously applied at ambient temperatures between 25 degrees C and 30 degrees C pigs aged between zero and 20 hours two and three, five and seven, ten and 14, 20 and 30 days, and eight weeks. With reference to excess glucose curves in the blood and plasma, the half-life of glucose elimination was graphically determined in a semi-logarithmic system. The result obtained was used to calculate the coefficients of assimilation and distribution, as well as the readily exchangeable pool and the transfer rate of glucose. On the average the half-life of glucose elimination in the five groups of the piglets was identical (0.47 hour); in contrast it was faster in weaners (0.17 hour) than in piglets. With reference to the plasma values, the volume of the glucose distribution decreased continuously with growing age. Average glucose transfer amounted to 1.02 mg/g. hr in weaners and thus was twice as much as that recorded for the five groups of the piglets. Reduction of ambient temperatures between 15 degrees C and 18 degrees C had no bearing on the parameters of 30-day piglets. These findings are likely to suggest that there is no increased glucose turnover within the thermal neutral zone in piglets over the first days of age and, consequently, cannot contribute to the development of hypoglycaemia.

Fructose tolerance tests were applied to 54 piglets, aged between zero and 20 hours, two and three, five and seven, as well as 20 and 30 days. Fructose injections per kilogram of body weight were 0.5 g and 1.0 g. Galactose tolerance tests were applied to 33 piglets, aged between zero and 20 hours as well as between five and seven or 20 and 35 days. The galactose dose per kilogram of body weight was 0.5 g. Very slow or no fructose elimination at all was recordable from the circulation of animals, aged between zero and 20 hours, yet, with elimination rates being accelerated along with growing age. Piglets, aged between 20 and 30 days, eliminated fructose from the blood just as fast as glucose (th = 0.49 +/- 0.11 hr). Fructose depressed the glucose levels in the blood in animals, aged between five and seven days, but it failed to do so in animals, aged between 20 and 30 days, Galactose was found to be eliminated speedily from the circulation, that is immediately after birth, a maximum being reached at an age between five and seven days (th = 0.11 +/- 0.02 hr). Fructose space in piglets, aged between five and seven or between 20 and 30 days, was found to be significantly below that recorded from the two younger age groups. Galactose space in piglets, aged between five and seven days, was significantly below that of the other two groups.