Insulin and glucagon regulation of gluconeogenesis in preruminating and ruminating bovine2

Hepatocyte monolayers were established from young preruminating (7 to 14 d of age) or older ruminating (11 to 12 wk of age) calves and used to evaluate the effects of insulin and glucagon on incorporation of carbon from 2.5 mM [2-14C]propionate and 2.0 mM [U-14C]lactate into glucose and glycogen. Developmental state (young preruminating vs older ruminating) of the donor calf did not affect the rate of gluconeogenesis from propionate in the absence of hormones. Insulin decreased (P < .05) gluconeogenesis and increased (P < .05) glycogenesis from propionate and lactate in hepatocytes from preruminating calves but had no effect on hepatocytes from ruminating calves. Lactate was poorly metabolized to glucose and was not responsive to glucagon in hepatocytes from ruminating calves compared with hepatocytes from preruminating calves. Hepatocytes responded to glucagon by increasing (P < .05) gluconeogenesis from propionate. Maximal responsiveness to glucagon did not differ between ruminating and preruminating calves, but hepatocytes from preruminating calves responded at lower glucagon concentrations (P < .05). These data demonstrate a similar capacity of hepatocytes from preruminating and ruminating calves to metabolize propionate to glucose, but there was a seven- to eightfold decrease in gluconeogenesis from lactate in ruminating calves that was accompanied by a decreased response to acute changes in insulin and glucagon.