The metabolism of palmitic acid-1-C14 in functionally hepatectomized rats*

• Main Authors: Bengt Borgström, Thomas Olivecrona
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 1961-07-01
• Series: Journal of Lipid Research
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022227520390131

Normal carbohydrate-fed rats and rats on which a functional hepatectomy had been performed by ligating the vessels of the porta hepatis were injected with C14-labeled palmitic acid bound to albumin, and the distribution of activity studied. The concentration of free fatty acids (FFA) in plasma rapidly rises after the hepatectomy. The half life of the injected activity, however, does not seem to change significantly in these animals. In the normal rat a considerable fraction of the injected FFA is recirculated in the blood in glycerides and to a lesser extent in phospholipids. This recirculation is almost completely abolished after hepatectomy, indicating that the liver is the chief organ for plasma lipoprotein synthesis. The peripheral tissues are capable of esterifying the FFA but do not release any esterified fatty acids into plasma, with the possible exception of adipose tissue. There is less activity going into the adipose tissue after hepatectomy. The uptake of fatty acids into adipose tissue is discussed.