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.