title: Gluconeogenesis from caecal propionate in the horse.
abstract: The production of propionate in the caecum of the horse has been measured in two Shetland-type ponies fitted with caecal and colonic cannulas and fed on hay or on hay and wheat bran. A continuous intracaecal infusion of 14C-labelled sodium propionate was used and samples were obtained from a cannula at the origin of the right ventral colon. A simultaneous intravenous infusion of [2-3H]glucose was used to measure total glucose entry. On a hay diet which provided 177 kJ/kg body-weight per d, mean caecal propionate production was 19.6 (range 17.2-21.2) mg/h per kg body-weight and on a hay and wheat bran diet, which provided 187 kJ/kg body-weight per d, mean caecal propionate production was 34.0 (range 28.9-38.3) mg/h per kg body-weight. Mean total glucose production (mg/h per kg body-weight) in one pony was 104 (range 100-110) and in the other 135 (range 123-153). Rates were not influenced by diet. About 7% of total glucose production was derived from propionate produced in the caecum and this percentage was unaffected by diet or by individual animals.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005943:Gluconeogenesis; D005947:Glucose / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006736:Horses / Q000378:metabolism*; D011422:Propionates / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011422:Propionates; C514135:sodium propionate; D005947:Glucose; C029658:propionic acid