Cori cycle
Last reviewed 01/2018
Lactate may enter hepatic gluconeogenesis by conversion into pyruvate. This is catalyzed by the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase working in the opposite direction to peripheral tissues. For example, skeletal muscle may be undertaking anaerobic glycolysis to produce lactate.
Hepatic gluconeogenesis then converts lactate back to glucose. Glucose is then free to circulate back to peripheral tissue to re-enter anaerobic glycolysis. This is the Cori cycle. It functions to:
- maintain glucose substrate for vital tissues
- prevent excessive acidosis due to an excess of lactate
Alternatively, the glucose produced by hepatic gluconeogenesis may be used for glycogenesis within the same cell.