Influence of Acetate on the Metabolism of Palmitate in the Perfused Hind-Quarter of the Rat

Abstract

The metabolism of 1-14C-palmitate and its metabolic interaction with U[uniformly labeled]-14C-acetate were studied in the perfused hind-quarter of the rat. The perfused tissue oxidized 9% of 1-14C-palmitate taken up to 14CO2 accounting for 7% of total O2 consumption by the perfused tissue. Most label from 1-14C-palmitate was found in the lipid fraction of the muscle tissue. Despite a 40% inhibition of palmitate oxidation, acetate only caused minor changes in the overall metabolism of palmitate. U-14C-acetate was mainly oxidized to 14CO2 and the O2 consumption due to oxidation of acetate accounted for 20-30% of the total O2 uptake. Minor amounts of 14C-acetate were found in muscle lipids. The addition of palmitate did not alter the metabolism of acetate. The presence of palmitate did not affect 14C-acetate metabolism, while the presence of acetate inhibited 14C-palmitate oxidation. The possible sites of interaction are discussed. The interaction will probably not contribute to any major extent to the disturbed lipid metabolism found in animals and man during ethanol intake. No major changes in the tissue content of high-energy phosphate compounds were found in the presence of palmitate or acetate or both.