Hormonal Effects on C-14 Acetate Metabolism in the Human. †

Abstract

Summary

These data suggest the following tentative conclusions: 1. Adrenal 17-hydroxycorticoids appear to exert an effect on utilization of acetate and to decrease oxidation of this 2 carbon fragment to CO₂. 2. Tn the human as in tissues of lower animals and in plant seeds, carboxyl carbon of acetate is more readily oxidized than is methyl carbon. The finding of a decrease in lipid synthesis form methyl labeled acetate in association with a decrease in oxidation of this compound as compared to carboxyl labeled acetate suggests that the carboxyl carbon may also be used preferentially for lipid synthesis in the human. 3. The syndrome of lipoatrophic diabetes appears to be associated with a decreased ability to store and perhaps to synthesize lipids in the adipose tissue rather than an increase in utilization of lipids of adipose tissue. 4. The stable adult diabetic may have a defect in conversion of 2 carbon fragments to fatty acids, even when the fasting blood sugar is normal.