Galactose Elimination Capacity in the Rat

Abstract

The elimination of galactose infused in rats was found to follow saturation kinetics with estimated maximal elimination rate 122 μmol per h and 200 g body weight and estimated half saturation concentration 0.4 mmol/1. The galactose elimination capacity (GEC) is defined as the elimination rates determined at blood concentrations between 6 and 20 time K_m. Multiple regression analysis demonstrates that both body weight and liver weight are determining for GEC. The relation between elimination rate and concentration of galactose metabolites in liver tissue indicates that the phosphorylation of galactose is rate limiting in the metabolism of galactose.

Key Words:

• Galactose
• diagnostic use
• galactose metabolism
• liver function tests
• rat metabolism