What event occurs at the age of 3-4 weeks that necessitates the ability to regul

Question

What event occurs at the age of 3-4 weeks that necessitates the ability to regulate blood glucose, and why?

Glycogen synthetase in the liver abruptly increases in the 5 days before a rat is born giving newborns the ability to synthesize liver glycogen. 1.4 1.2 b0.8 Glycogen synthetase Liver glucokinase -a key enzyme in blood glucose regulation-is strongly expressed only when rats reach 3 to 4 weeks of postnatal age 0.6 Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 0.4 Glucokinase- 0.2 25 Postweaning period 10 15 20 30 Prenatal period Nestling period Days of age relative to birth ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY3E, Figure 4.5 © 2012 Sinauer Associates, Inc.

Explanation / Answer

At the age of 3-4 weeks, the diet changes from milk (which is rich in fat) to solid (rich in carbohydrate). Glucokinase is an enzyme which facilitate conversion of glucose into glucose 6-phosphate in the glycolytic pathway and regulate the carbohydrate metabolism by sensing the level of glucose. Since at the age of 3-4 weeks the diet of rats changes from fat rich milk to carbohydrate rich solids, the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism becomes necessary at this age and therfore glucokinase is strongly expressed at this age.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse W
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.