Effects of Octanoic Acidemia on Palmitic Acid Metabolism in Rat Liver

Abstract

Abstract

This study examined the effects of octanoic acidemia on the metabolism of radioactive palmitic acid in rat liver. Octanoic acidemia, produced either by an in-traperitoneal bolus injection or sustained intravenous infusion of sodium octanoate, markedly influenced biochemical pathways which are concerned with the hepatic disposition of palmitic acid into the different classes of rat liver lipids. During acute octanoic acidemia, the incorporation of [16-¹⁴C]palmitic acid into hepatic triacylglycerols was greatly increased, while uptake of this fatty acid into phospholipids, especially phosphatidylcholine, was sharply reduced. When the octanoic acidemia resulted from intravenous infusion of sodium octanoate for 4 hr prior to the injection of [16-¹⁴C]palmitic acid, the pattern of isotope incorporation was one which would support hepatic steatosis.