Studies on acetol as an intermediary product in carbohydrate metabolism.

Abstract

In view of the fact that it has been demonstrated that acetol results in small amounts from the distillation of a large variety of the simpler carbohydrates with weak sodium bicarbonate solution, 1 an investigation was undertaken to determine whether such a change might not be a normal physiological process.

Greer, Witzemann, and Woodyatt 2 fed 10 and 20 gm. doses of acetol to dogs and in three experiments could demonstrate no extra glucose, and believed there was some evidence that this substance was partially converted to the acetone bodies. Acetol was made by the method outlined by Nef. 3 In the first series of experiments it was fed to a normal dog together with o-amino-benzaldehyde in order to determine whether the combination between acetol and o-aminobenzaldehyde into a readily detectable fluorescent 3-oxyquinaldine would take place in vivo as it does in vitro. 4 Since this combination could not be brought about in the animal organism, it was impossible by feeding o-aminobenzaldehyde to demonstrate the presence of acetol normally in the dog.

In the second set of experiments acetol was fed to the completely phlorhizinized dog on the fourth or fifth day of phlorhizination and the amount of any extra production of sugar was determined by calculations based on the prevailing D :N ratio. In the protocols given below only the results of the analyses from the fourth day are given. Urinary nitrogen was determined by the Kjeldahl method, glucose by the Benedict method, and total acetone bodies by the procedure of Van Slyke. In order to

determine whether acetol was excreted unchanged after its administration, the urine was distilled in slightly acid solution and a reduction test made on the distillate, always with negative results.