Role of acetoacetate in aggravating the disturbances in the carbohydrate metabolism of scorbutic animals

Abstract

Some changes in carbohydrate metabolism as effected by repeated admns. of acetoacetate in increasing amts. to guinea pigs denied vit. C were studied. Repeated intraperit. acetoacetate injns. administered to guinea pigs kept on a scurvy-producing diet causes a rapid development of hyperglycemia in the animals. A rapid depletion of glycogen storage of liver and leg muscle is observed in guinea pigs denied vit. C following the repeated injns. of acetoacetate. A low excretion of vit. C is found in the guinea pigs given acetoacetate, thus showing the destruction of vit. C by acetoacetate in vivo. It was thus been shown how an intermediary fat metabolite (the acetoacetate), which causes such marked disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism, may very well be considered as one of the factors in the etiology of diabetes.