Which organs/parts of the body are only functional on glucose?

[physicisttobe]

Homework Statement

which organs/parts of the body are only functional on glucose?

Relevant Equations

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Hi everyone!
Do you have an idea which organs/parts of the body are ONLY functional on glucose?
I would say the brain, pancreas, liver and kidney, but I have to take into account only those organs that are ONLY functional on glucose

 

[jim mcnamara]

Um, some of this is wrong, e.g., the brain runs well on ketones as an example.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2009; 645: 301–306.
doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-85998-9_45

If you google for 'which organs cannot run on ketones' gives you a very short list.

 

[Drakkith]

The brain can use ketone bodies in addition to glucose (in a fasting state), while the kidneys primarily use fatty acids as fuel (according to the source linked below at least). Your liver can certainly function on other things besides glucose, as it is the primary organ that generates glucose for your body. I believe the only cells that exclusively use glucose as an energy source are red blood cells since they don't have mitochondria.

See here: https://www.nature.com/scitable/top...n-of-nutrient-utilization-in-humans-14232807/

 

[physicisttobe]

All right, as an answer I'll then write red blood cells. Thank you so much!!

 

[Laroxe]

Apparently, it's only cells that lack mitochondria that are totally limited to glucose and while most human cells have mitochondria, that only leaves red blood cells and a few specialist cells around the eyes.

https://www.nature.com/scitable/top...n-of-nutrient-utilization-in-humans-14232807/

 

[EventHorizon]

Apparently the brain mostly functions on glucose; it does not only function on glucose. It is dependent on it as a primary energy substrate but it also uses ketones such as AcAc; brain cells also need some amount of insulin in order to process glucose.

On the other hand, erythrocytes depend on the anaerobic conversion of glucose by the Embden-Meyerhof path so they can generate and store high-energy phosphates because they are incapable of generating energy via the oxidative Krebs cycle.

Although the liver stores glucose, it does not always use it because it also primarily uses fatty acid oxidation for energy (similar case for adipose tissues).

The pancreas have key roles in maintaining normal glucose levels in blood by producing and releasing insulin and glucagon.