SYNTHESIS OF FATTY ACIDS BY TESTICULAR TISSUE IN VITRO

Abstract

The fatty acids palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, and oleic have been isolated from rabbit testis and evidence for the synthesis of palmitic and stearic acids de novo from acetate-1-C14is presented. ICSH did not produce demonstrable stimulation of the synthesis of these acids in vitro although the hormone stimulated the production of testosterone-C14by the same tissue. Adrenal tissue was shown to contain palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids, and ACTH did not increase the incorporation of acetate-1-C14into a fatty acid fraction extracted following incubation of adrenal tissue in the presence of this substrate. Fatty acid biosynthesis, therefore, is probably not influenced by the mechanisms by which tropic hormones increase steroid formation.