Autoxidation of Normal Rabbit Marrow Fat in Acetate Buffer

Abstract

When acetate buffer at ph 5.0 was added to normal rabbit marrow in vitro there was a large oxygen uptake attributable to autoxidation of endogenous polyunsaturated fatty acids. Under the experimental conditions the rate of autoxidation was essentially proportional to the quantity of total polyunsaturated fatty acids initially present. Oxygen uptake was measured by the conventional Warburg method whereas polyethenoid acids were determined spectrophotometrically.