Lactate produced during anaerobic glycolysis is recycled in the liver via which metabolic pathway?

• A. Cori cycle
• B. Krebs cycle
• C. Beta-oxidation
• D. Glycolysis

Answer: (A)

Lactate produced during anaerobic glycolysis is recycled in the liver through the Cori cycle. In tissues doing glycolysis without enough oxygen, pyruvate is converted to lactate to regenerate NAD+. Lactate then travels to the liver, where it is converted back to pyruvate and used for gluconeogenesis to form glucose. This glucose can be released back into the bloodstream to be used by tissues again. The Krebs cycle, beta-oxidation, and glycolysis describe other metabolic processes and do not describe the lactate-to-glucose shuttle between muscle and liver.