The formation of carbohydrate from fat in the liver of the rat

Abstract

The RQ of liver slices from rats fed on a butter diet was low (av. value 0.58). A synthesis of 1-6 mgm. fermentable carbohydrate per gm. tissue slices also occurred during a 3-hr. exp. Carbohydrate synthesis also occurred in slices of normal liver. The formation of aceto-acetic and B-hydroxybiityric acids was eliminated as a source of error in determining the RQ and the possibility of formation of carbohydrate from lactic acid was controlled.