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. 1996 Aug 15;318(Pt 1):235–240. doi: 10.1042/bj3180235

Acetate represents a major product of heptanoate and octanoate beta-oxidation in hepatocytes isolated from neonatal piglets.

X Lin 1, S H Adams 1, J Odle 1
PMCID: PMC1217613  PMID: 8761477

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to explore the nature of the radiolabel distribution in acid-soluble products (ASPs) resulting from the oxidation of [1-14C]C7:0 or C8:0 by isolated piglet hepatocytes. The differences between odd and even chain-length and the impacts of valproate and malonate upon the rate of beta-oxidation and ASP characteristics were tested. A minor amount of fatty acid carboxyl carbon (< or = 10% of organic acids identified by radio-HPLC) accumulated in ketone bodies regardless of chain-length or inhibitor used. In all cases, acetate represented the major reservoir of carboxyl carbon, accounting for 60-70% of radiolabel in identified organic acids. Cells given [1-14C]C7:0 accumulated 85% more carboxyl carbon in Krebs cycle intermediates when compared with C8:0, while accumulation in acetate was unaffected. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that anaplerosis from odd-carbon fatty acids affects the oxidative fate of fatty acid carbon. The piglet appears unique in that non-ketogenic routes of fatty acid carbon flow (i.e. acetogenesis) predominate in the liver of this species.

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Selected References

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