Effects of chronic ethanol ingestion on glucose homeostasis in males and females

Liver glycogen levels were decreased about 61% in both males and females after chronic ethanol ingestion. In contrast, blood glucose concentration was decreased only in males. In an attempt to explain these data, six enzymes involved with the metabolism of glucose and glycogen were measured. Sex differences were found in the effects of ethanol on the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, UDPG- pyrophosphorylase and phosphoglucomutase. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and UDPG-pyrophosphorylase were decreased by ethanol in males 42 and 62%, respectively. Females were not changed. Phosphoglucomutase was decreased 29% in females, and males were not changed. Glucose-6-phosphatase was increased and hexokinase and phosphorylase $\text{a}$ were decreased about the same extent in both sexes by ethanol. The data suggest that both sexes have been altered in such a manner as to keep liver glucose in the unphosphorylated form and thus readily available to other tissues; however, the mechanism appears to be different between the sexes. The decrease in liver glycogen may be explained by an increased utilization of glucose by peripherial tissues; however, the lack of change in blood glucose in females argues against this.