Carnitine metabolism in livers and hearts of 48h-starved rats: the contribution of fat and carbohydrate to acylcarnitine formation
French, T.J.; Goode, A.W.; Holness, M.J.; Sugden, M.C.
Biochemistry International 11(2): 265-272
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0158-5231 PMID: 4052090 Document Number: 250626
The work investigated the effects of administration of 2-tetradecylglycidate (TDG), an inhibitor of mitochondrial long-chain fatty acid oxidation, alone or in combination with glucose, on concentrations of free and acylated carnitine in livers and hearts of 48 h-starved rats. The only significant effect of TDG in the heart was to decrease were observed. This indicates that formation of short-chain acylcarnitine in liver is not determined by the rates of fat oxidation. It was calculated that at least 63% of the acyl-groups esterified to carnitine were generated by intramitochondrial beta-oxidation. The effects of glucose and TDG on hepatic concentrations of free and long-chain acylcarnitine were additive, suggesting that extramitochondrial fat oxidation can contribute to acylcarnitine formation in liver.