Oxidative Metabolic Pattern of Normal and Ketotic Cow Liver Incubated With 1-C 14 -Labeled Aliphatic Acids. ∗

Conclusions

1) The oxidative metabolic patterns of normal and ketotic cow liver studies with 1-C¹⁴-labeled C₁ through C₃ aliphatic acids, were determined using a chromatographic-autoradiographic technic. 2) The label from each metabolite had its own distinctive distribution pattern as evidenced by autoradiograms. 3) Normal cow liver slices incorporated carboxyl-labeled carbons of the various aliphatic acids, to the greatest extent, into non-volatile compounds as follows: formate, into glucose and what appear to be phosphate esters; acetate, into β-hydroxybutyrate, glutamate, citrate and small amounts of glucose and lactate: butyrate, into β-hydroxybutyrate and glutamate-glutamine with little incorporation into C₃ intermediates; propionate, into malate, aspartate and lactate; valerate, into β-hydroxybutyrate and β-hydroxyvalerate with a very wide distribution into the other intermediates chromatographically obtainable. 4) Ketotic cow liver slices exhibited a marked reduction in utilization of formate and an altered distribution in labeling of intermediates when incubated with various labeled aliphatic acids.