In Vitro Metabolism of Fatty Acids by Adipose and Liver Tissue of the Adrenalectomized Rat

¹ From the Department of Physiology and Medical Research, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

The utilization of acetate and octanoate by adipose tissue from rats 1 and 2 weeks postadrenalectomy has been studied. In addition, acetate incorporation into liver fatty acids and ketogenesis by liver slices from 2-week postoperative animals has been measured. Adrenalectomy resulted in a progressive loss of fat from adipose tissue. At 1-week postadrenalectomy the incorporation of acetate into fatty acids by adipose tissue did not differ from the control preparations but was much increased 2 weeks after adrenalectomy. At this time there was no increase in utilization of added octanoic acid by the adipose tissue and neither at 1 nor at 2 weeks was the production of CO₂ from either acetate or octanoic significantly different from normal. Liver slices from 2-week adrenalectomized animals had a markedly defective ability to incorporate acetate into liver fatty acids similar to that previously noted in 1-week animals. However, liver slice preparation from 2-week adrenalectomized rats showed increased ketone body formation, indicating increased fatty acid utilization by the liver. It is suggested that there is a gradual mobilization of fat from the depots to the liver in the adrenalectomized rat with increased utilization of fat by the liver.