Non-Esterified Higher Fatty Acids in Serum of CCl4-Treated and Normal Rats and Other Species

Abstract

Methods for the determination of "free", i.e. non-esterified, higher fatty acids in serum were modified. These acids are firmly bound to albumin. Slightly less than 1 mole of them was found/mole albumin in normal rat, rabbit and bovine serum. Serum of CCI4-treated rats contained significantly more non-esterified higher fatty acids (1.30 moles/mole albumin) than that of normal rats (0.85 mole/mole albumin). The results are considered indicative of the impaired liver function in the injured rats. They offer further evidence for the postulation that the lowering of the azorubin-binding capacity of serum albumin is caused by increased concentrations of firmly bound higher fatty acids.