Metabolism of Volatile Fatty Acids by the Perfused Goat Liver. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Formate, butyrate and propionate were removed from blood and metabolized by the perfused liver. Butyrate, propionate and formate contributed heavily to carbohydrate metabolism and formation of glycogen. Formate was produced by the liver, and even though size of formate pool increased considerably, there was substantial contribution of this pool to glycogen formation. Acetate levels in blood showed a slight increase during perfusion. The major portion of recovered label from added acetate remained in blood acetate indicating that most of the acetate arising from the rumen passes unaltered through the liver. The bulk of acetone bodies in ruminants apparently arises primarily from hepatic lipid metabolism and not from direct conversion of rumen VFA by the liver.