Hypoglycemia in infants

New lessons in the regulation of glucose metabolism taught by the glucose 6-phosphatase system

The operation of glucose 6-phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.9) (Glc6Pase) stems from the interaction of at least two highly hydrophobic proteins embedded in the ER membrane, a heavily glycosylated catalytic subunit of m 36 kDa (P36) and a 46-kDa putative glucose 6-phosphate (Glc6P) translocase (P46). Topology studies of P36 and P46 predict, respectively, nine and ten transmembrane domains with the N-terminal end of P36 oriented towards the lumen of the ER and both termini of P46 oriented towards the cytoplasm. P36 gene expression is increased by glucose, fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P2) and free fatty acids, as well as by glucocorticoids and cyclic AMP; the latter are counteracted by insulin. P46 gene expression is affected by glucose, insulin and cyclic AMP in a manner similar to P36. Accordingly, several response elements for glucocorticoids, cyclic AMP and insulin regulated by hepatocyte nuclear factors were found in the Glc6Pase promoter. Mutations in P36 and P46 lead to glycogen storage disease (GSD) type-1a and type-1 non a (formerly 1b and 1c), respectively. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of P36 in hepatocytes and in vivo impairs glycogen metabolism and glycolysis and increases glucose production; P36 overexpression in INS-1 cells results in decreased glycolysis and glucose-induced insulin secretion. The nature of the interaction between P36 and P46 in controling Glc6Pase activity remains to be defined. The latter might also have functions other than Glc6P transport that are related to Glc6P metabolism.

Effect of hypoglycemia on postischemic cortical blood flow, hypercapnic reactivity, and interstitial adenosine concentration

Hypoglycemia increases the vulnerability of the perinatal brain to asphyxia, but it is not known if hypoglycemia-induced changes in cerebral hemodynamics and vascular reactivity underlie this vulnerability. This study tested the hypothesis that hypoglycemia exacerbates postischemic hypoperfusion, and impairs postischemic CO2 reactivity. The authors also examined the hypothesis that postischemic hypoperfusion is associated with a reduction in the interstitial concentration of the vasodilator metabolite adenosine. Global cerebral ischemia of 10 minutes duration was induced in newborn pigs anesthetized with isoflurane by occlusion of subclavian and brachiocephalic arteries; cortical cerebral blood flow (CBF) and interstitial adenosine concentration were evaluated simultaneously using the combined hydrogen clearance/microdialysis technique. Hypoglycemia (blood glucose < 25 mg/dl) was induced by regular insulin (25 IU/kg) administered intravenously 2 hours prior to induction of ischemia. In the eight normoglycemic animals, baseline CBF was 38 +/- 4 ml/min/100 gm and baseline adenosine concentration was 1.2 +/- 0.1 microM; in the eight hypoglycemic animals, these values were 39% (p < 0.05) and 62% (p < 0.05) greater, respectively, under baseline conditions. At 1 hour of postischemic reperfusion in normoglycemic animals, CBF was reduced 39% relative to the preischemic baseline (p < 0.01), concomitant with a 27% reduction (p < 0.05) in adenosine concentration, suggesting that this lowered concentration may underlie delayed hypoperfusion. These postischemic reductions in CBF and interstitial adenosine concentration were significantly greater in hypoglycemic animals, with CBF and adenosine concentration reduced 70% (p < 0.001) and 71% (p < 0.01), respectively, relative to baseline. In nine animals preischemic reactivity to hypercapnia was unaffected by hypoglycemia. Postischemic hypercapnic reactivity was retained in the eight normoglycemic animals, but was attenuated 73% (p < 0.05) in hypoglycemic animals. Thus, in the newborn pig, hypoglycemia exacerbates postischemic cortical hypoperfusion and impairs postischemic cerebrovascular reactivity to hypercapnia.