Fatty Acid Utilization by Adrenalectomized Rats

Abstract

The production of radioactive CO₂ by intact and adrenalectomized rats given 1 C¹⁴ octanoic acid and the production of radioactive CO₂ and radioactive acetoacetic acid by surviving liver slices from adrenalectomized and unoperated rats using 1 C¹⁴ octanoic acid as substrate have been studied. It was found that the CO₂ production and acetoacetic acid production in vitro and CO₂ production in vivo did not differ in the two types of animals. These results suggest that the adrenalectomized rat does not utilize fatty acids at a higher than normal rate and that the previously reported decreased incorporation of acetate into fatty acids by the liver slices from adrenalectomized rats is a reflection of decreased hepatic lipogenesis.