Restricted diet modifies carbohydrate metabolism in immature rats

The aim of the present work was to study the effect of a restricted diet on carbohydrate metabolism in submandibular glands of female prepuber rats and the influence of arachidonic acid derivatives. Rats of 21 days of age were divided into three groups. Group I: normally fed rats. Group II: restricted diet (50% of the normal food intake). Group III: normally restricted diet with re-feeding. The baseline concentration of tissue glycogen was significantly higher in Group II than in I or III and after 60 min of incubation in a glucose free medium all groups showed a glycogen drop. In addition, the glucose metabolism was increased in Group II. Cycloxigenase inhibitors failed to alter 14CO2 levels in Groups I and III. In Group II, indomethacin and acetylsalicylic acid inhibited glucose metabolism, which was reverted by PGE2 addition. The exogenous arachidonic acid metabolism and different eicosanoids showed that restricted diet significantly increased the production of PGE2 but diminished PGF2α production. Our results suggest that a restricted diet would lead to a new dynamic equilibrium of glucose homeostasis. Prostaglandins E2 and F2α would participate by adapting the source of energy to tissue demands while maintaining the metabolic features that characterize puberty.