A sparing effect of increased plasma fatty acids on muscle and liver glycogen content in the exercising rat

Abstract

Increasing plasma free fatty acids decreased the degree of glycogen depletion, and increased the citrate concentration, in slow red (soleus) and fast red (deep portion of vastus lateralis) muscle during exercise (approx. 50% depletion of glycogen, as against 75% in control animals). There was no effect in fast white muscle (superficial portion of vastus lateralis). Glycogen concentration in the liver decreased by 83% in controls, but only by 23% in animals with increased free fatty acids during exercise. The decreased glycogen depletion may be partly explained by the findings that (a) plasma insulin concentration was two to three fold higher in animals with increased plasma free fatty acids and (b) the exercise induced increase in plasma glucagon was lessened by increased free fatty acids. Blood glucose was higher in the animals with increased free fatty acids after the exercise. The rats with increased plasma free fatty acids utilized approx. 50% as much carbohydrate as did the controls during the exercise.