Biosynthesis of Fatty Acids in Perfused Hearts of Rats Fed a Fat-Supplemented or a Fat-Free Diet 1

Abstract

Summary

Incorporation of ¹⁴C from [1-¹⁴C]butyrate into lipids of the perfused rat heart was slightly greater than that from [1-¹⁴C]acetate. Of the ¹⁴C incorporated into total lipids, a greater proportion was in phospholipids when [¹⁴C]acetate was the substrate than when [¹⁴C]butyrate was used as substrate. Perfusion with [¹⁴C]butyrate resulted in more ¹⁴C incorporation into shorter chain fatty acids and less incorporation into palmitic and arachidonic acids than with [¹⁴C]acetate. Feeding a fat-free diet did not affect the metabolism of acetate in the perfused heart. However, it did increase the relative incorporation of ¹⁴C from butyrate into phospholipids as well as the total ¹⁴C incorporation into total lipids of perfused hearts of rats compared to those fed a fat-supplemented diet.