Regulation of pathways of glucose metabolism in the kidney. The activity of the pentose phosphate pathway, glycolytic route and the regulation of phosphofructokinase in the kidney of lean and genetically obese (ob/ob) mice; comparison with effects of diabetes.

The activities of enzymes of the glycolytic route, the pentose phosphate pathway and NADPH-linked enzymes have been measured in the kidneys of genetically obese (ob/ob) mice and their lean litter mates. The renal content of glucose 6-phosphate (G6P), fructose 6-phosphate (F6P), fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (Fru-1,6-P2) and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P2) were also measured. Increases were found in hexokinase and enolase with an upward trend in pyruvate kinase in the ob/ob mouse kidney; a significant decline in malic enzyme was also seen. The renal content of G6P and Fru-1,6-P2 increased. There was no renal hypertrophy despite a degree of hyperglycaemia, which was, however, considerably below that observed in experimental diabetes. Comparison of the renal changes in the hyperglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic ob/ob mice with the hyperglycaemic-hypoinsulinaemic diabetic group showed two distinct groupings. Firstly, changes which were similar in the two groups included: increases in hexokinase, G6P and Fru-1,6-P2, and a decrease in malic enzyme. Secondly, opposite changes were seen in enolase and in enzymes at the G6P crossroads, phosphoglucose isomerase and phosphoglucomutase. The elevated hexokinase and G6P in both ob/ob and diabetic groups may be involved in the eventual accumulation of basement membrane material in the glomerulus which is a common feature of the two conditions.