The effects of insulin and glucagon on ketone-body turnover.

A double-isotope procedure was used to measure the effects of insulin and glucagon on ketone-body production and utilization (i.e. turnover) in the starved rat. Somatostatin was infused during the experiment to suppress the pancreatic release of either hormone. The immediate action of insulin in terms of ketone-body turnover that was most evident was a decreased production of 3-hydroxybutyrate, with no significant change in the turnover of acetoacetate. Similarly, the significant effect of glucagon infusion was to increase the production of 3-hydroxybutyrate, with minimum increase in acetoacetate turnover. The data support a direct effect of both hormones on the distribution of acetyl units derived from fatty acid beta-oxidation.     

Conversion of [U-14C]glucose into carbon dioxide, glycogen, cholesterol and fatty acids in liver slices from embryonic and growing chicks

1. Rates of appearance and disappearance of total ketone bodies were determined in normal, starved and alloxan-diabetic rats by measuring specific radioactivities and concentrations of blood acetoacetate and 3-hydroxybutyrate at different times after injection of 3-hydroxy[(14)C]butyrate. 2. The mean rates of appearance were 1.7, 4.2 and 10.9mumoles/min./100g. body wt. respectively for normal, starved and alloxan-diabetic rats. The rates of disappearance were of the same order of magnitude as the rates of appearance. 3. There was a direct correlation between the rates of appearance and disappearance and the blood concentrations of the ketone bodies. 4. The results indicate that in the rat increased ketone-body production is paralleled by increased ketone-body utilization and that the raised ketone-body concentration in the blood in starvation and alloxan-diabetes is due to a slight imbalance between the rates of production and utilization. 5. The findings are discussed in relation to the concept that ketone bodies can serve as fuels of respiration when the supply of carbohydrate is limited.     

A possible mechanism for the anti-ketogenic action of alanine in the rat

1. The anti-ketogenic effect of alanine has been studied in normal starved and diabetic rats by infusing l-alanine for 90min in the presence of somatostatin (10μg/kg body wt. per h) to suppress endogenous insulin and glucagon secretion. 2. Infusion of alanine at 3mmol/kg body wt. per h caused a 70±11% decrease in [3-hydroxybutyrate] and a 58±9% decrease in [acetoacetate] in 48h-starved rats. [Glucose] and [lactate] increased, but [non-esterified fatty acid], [glycerol] and [3-hydroxybutyrate]/[acetoacetate] were unchanged. 3. Infusion of alanine at 1mmol/kg body wt. per h caused similar decreases in [ketone body] (3-hydroxybutyrate plus acetoacetate) in 24h-starved normal and diabetic rats, but no change in other blood metabolites. 4. Alanine [3mmol/kg body wt. per h] caused a 72±9% decrease in the rate of production of ketone bodies and a 57±8% decrease in disappearance rate as assessed by [3-¹⁴C]acetoacetate infusion. Metabolic clearance was unchanged, indicating that the primary effect of alanine was inhibition of hepatic ketogenesis. 5. Aspartate infusion at 6mmol/kg body wt. per h had similar effects on blood ketone-body concentrations in 48h-starved rats. 6. Alanine (3mmol/kg body wt. per h) caused marked increases in hepatic glutamate, aspartate, malate, lactate and citrate, phosphoenolpyruvate, 2-phosphoglycerate and glucose concentrations and highly significant decreases in [3-hydroxybutyrate] and [acetoacetate]. Calculated [oxaloacetate] was increased 75%. 7. Similar changes in hepatic [malate], [aspartate] and [ketone bodies] were found after infusion of 6mmol of aspartate/kg body wt. per h. 8. It is suggested that the anti-ketogenic effect of alanine is secondary to an increase in hepatic oxaloacetate and hence citrate formation with decreased availability of acetyl-CoA for ketogenesis. The reciprocal negative-feedback cycle of alanine and ketone bodies forms an important non-hormonal regulatory system.     

Effects of L-Alanine on ketogenesis in vitro

Alanine (5 mM) increased ¹⁴CO₂ production from [1-¹⁴C]oleate by 130% and from [1-¹⁴C]butyrate by 101%. Alanine inhibited ketone-body production by 37.5% in the presence of butyrate but did not affect ketogenesis in the presence of oleate. Alanine decreased the [3-hydroxybutyrate]/[acetoacetate] ratio when either butyrate or oleate was present. The results are discussed with reference to the hypoketonaemic action of alanine in vivo.     

Ketone-body utilization by homogenates of adult rat brain

The regulation of ketone-body metabolism and the quantitative importance of ketone bodies as lipid precursors in adult rat brain has been studied in vitro. Utilization of ketone bodies and of pyruvate by homogenates of adult rat brain was measured and the distribution of¹⁴C from [3-¹⁴C]ketone bodies among the metabolic products was analysed. The rate of ketone-body utilization was maximal in the presence of added Krebs-cycle intermediates and uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation. The consumption of acetoacetate was faster than that ofd-3-hydroxybutyrate, whereas, pyruvate produced twice as much acetyl-CoA as acetoacetate under optimal conditions. Millimolar concentrations of ATP in the presence of uncoupler lowered the consumption of ketone bodies but not of pyruvate. Indirect evidence is presented suggesting that ATP interferes specifically with the mitochondrial uptake of ketone bodies. Interconversion of ketone bodies and the accumulation of acid-soluble intermediates (mainly citrate and glutamate) accounted for the major part of ketone-body utilization, whereas only a small part was oxidized to CO₂. Ketone bodies were not incorporated into lipids or protein. We conclude that adult rat-brain homogenates use ketone bodies exclusively for oxidative purposes.     

Ketone-body metabolism in tumour-bearing rats.

During starvation for 72 h, tumour-bearing rats showed accelerated ketonaemia and marked ketonuria. Total blood [ketone bodies] were 8.53 mM and 3.34 mM in tumour-bearing and control (non-tumour-bearing) rats respectively (P less than 0.001). The [3-hydroxybutyrate]/[acetoacetate] ratio was 1.3 in the tumour-bearing rats, compared with 3.2 in the controls at 72 h (P less than 0.001). Blood [glucose] and hepatic [glycogen] were lower at the start of starvation in tumour-bearing rats, whereas plasma [non-esterified fatty acids] were not increased above those in the control rats during starvation. After functional hepatectomy, blood [acetoacetate], but not [3-hydroxybutyrate], decreased rapidly in tumour-bearing rats, whereas both ketone bodies decreased, and at a slower rate, in the control rats. Blood [glucose] decreased more rapidly in the hepatectomized control rats. Hepatocytes prepared from 72 h-starved tumour-bearing and control rats showed similar rates of ketogenesis from palmitate, and the distribution of [1-14C] palmitate between oxidation (ketone bodies and CO2) and esterification was also unaffected by tumour-bearing, as was the rate of gluconeogenesis from lactate. The carcinoma itself showed rapid rates of glycolysis and a poor ability to metabolize ketone bodies in vitro. The results are consistent with the peripheral, normal, tissues in tumour-bearing rats having increased ketone-body and decreased glucose metabolic turnover rates.     

Effects of adrenaline on ketogenesis from long- and medium-chain fatty acids in starved rats.

1. Injection of adrenaline into 24 h-starved rats caused a 69% decrease in blood [ketone-body] (3-hydroxybutyrate plus acetoacetate), accompanied by a decreased [3-hydroxybutyrate]/[acetoacetate] ratio. Blood [glucose] and [lactate] increased, but [alanine] was unchanged. 2. Adrenaline also decreased [ketone-body] after intragastric feeding of both long- and medium-chain triacylglycerol. The latter decrease was observed after suppression of lipolysis with 5-methylpyrazole-3-carboxylic acid, indicating that the antiketogenic action of adrenaline was not dependent on the chain length of the precursor fatty acid. 3. The actions of adrenaline to decrease blood [ketone-body] and to increase blood [glucose] were not observed after administration of 3-mercaptopicolinate, an inhibitor of gluconeogenesis. This suggests that these effects of the hormone are related. 4. The possible clinical significance of the results is discussed with reference to the restricted ketosis often observed after surgical or orthopaedic injury.     

Effects of ketone bodies on amino acid metabolism in isolated rat diaphragm.

1. Diaphragms from 48h-starved rats were incubated in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate medium at 37degreesC for 30min and then transferred into new medium and incubated for 1, 2 and 3 h. 2. The amount of free amino acids found at the end of each time of incubation was larger than the amount at the beginning of incubation, indicating that in this system proteolysis is prevailing. 3. The diaphragms was releasing mainly alanine and glutamine into the incubation medium. 4. Within the periods of incubation the release and metabolism of free amino acids was proceeding at a constant rate. 5. Addition of sodium DL-3-hydroxybutyrate decreased the tissue content of several amino acids, among which were tyrosine and phenylalanine, suggesting that proteolysis was decreased by ketone bodies. 6. In the presence of glucose (10mM) and branched-chain amino acids (0.5mM), sodium DL-3-hydroxybutyrate at concentrations of 4 or 6 mM resulted in 30% decrease in tissue alanine content and a 20% decline in alanine release. Release of taurine and glutamine was decreased by 19 and 16% respectively with 6 mM-sodium DL-3-hydroxybutyrate. Addition of sodium acetoacetate (1-3mM) also resulted in a 20-35% decrease in tissue content of alanine, glutamine and taurine and in a 15-24% decrease of alanine and glutamine release. Smaller decreases (less than 15%) in the release of glycine, threonine, proline, serine and aspartate were also observed in the presence of sodium DL-3-hydroxybutyrate or sodium acetoacetate. 7. Substitution of pyruvate (1.0mM) for glucose in the presence of acetoacetate restored alanine and glutamine production to control values. In the presence of acetoacetate, pyruvate also increased the tissue content of aspartate by 77% and decreased the tissue content of glutamate by 30%. 8. It is suggested that in diaphragms from starved rats, ketone bodies (a) in the absence of other substrates inhibit protein catabolism and (b) in the presence of glucose and branched-chain amino acids decrease alanine and glutamine production, by inhibiting glycolysis.     

Metabolic interactions of dichloroacetate and insulin in experimental diabetic ketoacidosis.

1. The infusion of sodium dichloroacetate into rats with severe diabetic ketoacidosis over 4h caused a 2mM decrease in blood glucose, and small falls in blood lactate and pyruvate concentrations. Similar findings had been reported in normal rats (Blackshear et al., 1974). In contrast there was a marked decrease in blood ketone-body concentration in the diabetic ketoacidotic rats after dichloroacetate treatment. 2. The infusion of insulin alone rapidly decreased blood glucose and ketone bodies, but caused an increase in blood lactate and pyruvate. 3. Dichloroacetate did not affect the response to insulin of blood glucose and ketone bodies, but abolished the increase of lactate and pyruvate seen after insulin infusion. 4. Neither insulin nor dichloroacetate stimulated glucose disappearance after functional hepatectomy, but both agents decreased the accumulation in blood of lactate, pyruvate and alanine. 5. Dichloroacetate inhibited 3-hydroxybutyrate uptake by the extra-splachnic tissues; insulin reversed this effect. Ketone-body production must have decreased, as hepatic ketone-body content was unchanged by dicholoracetate yet blood concentrations decreased. 6. It was concluded that: (a) dichloroacetate had qualitatively similar effects on glucose metabolism in severely ketotic rats to those observed in non-diabetic starved animals; (b) insulin and dichloroacetate both separately and together, decreased the net release of lactate, pyruvate and alanine from the extra-splachnic tissues, possibly through a similar mechanism; (c) insulin reversed the inhibition of 3-hydroxybutyrate uptake caused by dichloroacetate; (d) dichloroacetate inhibited ketone-body production in severe ketoacidosis.     

Effect of ischaemic limb injury on the rates of metabolism of ketone bodies in starved rats.

1. Rats starved for 30h were injected with trace amounts of [3-14C]acetoacetate and beta-hydroxy[3-14C]butyrate 1h after ischaemic limb injury in a 20 degrees C environment, and the concentrations and radioactivities of blood ketone bodies were determined at intervals. 2. Starvation alone raised the rates of production and utilization of beta-hydroxybutyrate plus acetoacetate about 3.7-fold, but lowered their metabolic clearance rates by about 50%. In the starved rat ketone-body oxidation could account for up to 30% of whole body O2 consumption. 3. Injury in starved rats lowered the rates of production and utilization of both beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate, the combined fall of about 37% slightly exceeding the concomitant fall in whole-body O2 consumption. The concentration of beta-hydroxybutyrate decreased after injury, but its metabolic clearance rate was unaltered; the concentration of acetoacetate rose slightly and its metabolic clearance rate fell.     

Changes in drug-metabolizing activities in the livers of suckling rats as a result of treatment of the lactating mothers with phenobarbitone and chlorpromazine

1. The activities in rat tissues of 3-oxo acid CoA-transferase (the first enzyme involved in acetoacetate utilization) were found to be highest in kidney and heart. In submaxillary and adrenal glands the activities were about one-quarter of those in kidney and heart. In brain it was about one-tenth and was less in lung, spleen, skeletal muscle and epididymal fat. No activity was detectable in liver. 2. The activities of acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase were found roughly to parallel those of the transferase except for liver and adrenal glands. The high activity in the latter two tissues may be explained by additional roles of thiolase, namely, the production of acetyl-CoA from fatty acids. 3. The activities of the two enzymes in tissues of mouse, gerbil, golden hamster, guinea pig and sheep were similar to those of rat tissues. The notable exception was the low activity of the transferase and thiolase in sheep heart and brain. 4. The activities of the transferase in rat tissues did not change appreciably in starvation, alloxan-diabetes or on fat-feeding, where the rates of ketone-body utilization are increased. Thiolase activity increased in kidney and heart on fat-feeding. 5. The activity of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase did not change in rat brain during starvation. 6. The factors controlling the rate of ketone-body utilization are discussed. It is concluded that the activities of the relevant enzymes in the adult rat do not control the variations in the rate of ketone-body utilization that occur in starvation or alloxan-diabetes. The controlling factor in these situations is the concentration of the ketone bodies in plasma and tissues.     

Effect of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism of the perfused rat liver.

1. Liver from hyper- and hypo-thyroid male fed rats were perfused with whole blood and their metabolism was compared with euthyroid controls. 2. Hyperthyroid livers produced more bile than controls and hypothyroid livers produced less. 3. Glucose output by all livers was similar; glycogen declined only during perfusion of hyperthyroid livers. Lactate uptake increased in hyperthyroid but decreased in hypothyroid livers. These results may be explained by changes in oxidation of carbohydrate rather than in gluconeogenesis. 4. Secretion of triacylglycerol was decreased in hyperthyroid and not changed significantly in hypothyroid livers. 5. Fractional extraction of infused [1-14C]oleate was unaltered. Hyperthyroid livers oxidized more oleate to CO2 and ketone bodies, esterified less and incorporated less into lipoproteins of d less than 1.006. Hypothyroid livers oxidized and esterified oleate to the same extent as controls; their decreased O2 consumption was due to diminished oxidation of other (non-lipid) substrates; 14C-labelled ketone-body formation was increased, but at the expense of 14CO2 production. 6. Lipogenesis (measured with 3H2O) was unaltered in hyperthyroid but was decreased in hypothyroid livers. Incorporation of 3H and 14C into triacylglycerol relative to phospholipid decreased in hyperthyroid and increased in hypothyroid livers. Cholesterol synthesis was similar in all perfusions. 7. During oleate infusion, the cytosolic redox state, as indicated by the perfusate [lactate]/[pyruvate] ratio, was decreased in hyperthyroid and increased in hypothyroid livers. No change in [3-hydroxybutyrate]/[acetoacetate] was detected. 8. The importance of relating the concentration of plasma non-esterified fatty acids to the interpretation of metabolic data obtained under differing thyroid status is emphasized.     

Glutamine and ketone-body metabolism in the gut of streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

1. In short- and long-term diabetic rats there is a marked increase in size of both the small intestine and colon, which was accompanied by marked decreases (P less than 0.001) and increases (P less than 0.001) in the arterial concentrations of glutamine and ketone bodies respectively. 2. Portal-drained viscera blood flow increased by approx. 14-37% when expressed as ml/100 g body wt., but was approximately unchanged when expressed as ml/g of small intestine of diabetic rats. 3. Arteriovenous-difference measurements for ketone bodies across the gut were markedly increased in diabetic rats, and the gut extracted ketone bodies at approx. 7 and 60 nmol/min per g of small intestine in control and 42-day-diabetic rats respectively. 4. Glutamine was extracted by the gut of control rats at a rate of 49 nmol/min per g of small intestine, which was diminished by 45, 76 and 86% in 7-, 21- and 42-day-diabetic rats respectively. 5. Colonocytes isolated from 7- or 42-day-diabetic rats showed increased and decreased rates of ketone-body and glutamine metabolism respectively, whereas enterocytes of the same animals showed no apparent differences in the rates of acetoacetate utilization as compared with control animals. 6. Prolonged diabetes had no effects on the maximal activities of either glutaminase or ketone-body-utilizing enzymes of colonic tissue preparations. 7. It is concluded that, although the epithelial cells of the small intestine and the colon during streptozotocin-induced diabetes exhibit decreased rates of metabolism of glutamine, such decreases were partially compensated for by enhanced ketone-body utilization by the gut mucosa of diabetic rats.     

Effects of ketone bodies on insulin release and islet-cell metabolism in the rat.

Ketone bodies promote insulin secretion from isolated rat pancreatic islets in the presence of 5 mM-glucose, but are ineffective in its absence. At concentrations of 10 mM or less, the relative abilities of the ketone bodies to potentiate release are in the order D-3-hydroxybutyrate greater than DL-3-hydroxybutyrate greater than acetoacetate. The response curve relating insulin release to D-3-hydroxybutyrate concentration displays a threshold at 1 mM and a maximum at 10 mM. D-3-Hydroxybutyrate (5 mM, but not 10 mM) promotes insulin secretion in the presence of 5 mM concentrations of both L-arginine and DL-glyceraldehyde, but not with L-leucine, L-alanine, L-glutamate or 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate. The oxidation rates of the exogenous ketone bodies do not correlate well with their capacities to promote insulin release. Moreover, the oxidation of 5 mM-D-3-hydroxybutyrate can be inhibited by 25% with methylmalonate (10 mM) without any diminution of release. The potentiation with D-3-hydroxybutyrate occurs without an observable increase in total islet cyclic AMP. However, a small net efflux matches the relative abilities of the ketone bodies to promote insulin release. With islets from 48 h-starved animals the insulin response is both diminished and less sensitive than in fed animals, since insulin secretion is not significantly raised until a threshold of 5 mM-D-3-hydroxybutyrate is reached. These results suggest that, in the rat at least, there should be a reappraisal of the physiological role of ketone bodies in the promotion of insulin release.     

Fuel utilization in colonocytes of the rat.

In incubated colonocytes isolated from rat colons, the rates of utilization O2, glucose or glutamine were linear with respect to time for over 30 min, and the concentrations of adenine nucleotides plus the ATP/ADP or ATP/AMP concentration ratios remained approximately constant for 30 min. Glutamine, n-butyrate or ketone bodies were the only substrates that caused increases in O2 consumption by isolated incubated colonocytes. The maximum activity of hexokinase in colonic mucosa is similar to that of 6-phosphofructokinase. Starvation of the donor animal decreased the activities of hexokinase and 6-phosphofructokinase, whereas it increased those of glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-bisphosphatase. Isolated incubated colonocytes utilized glucose at about 6.8 mumol/min per g dry wt., with lactate accounting for 83% of glucose removed. These rates were not affected by the addition of glutamine, acetoacetate or n-butyrate, and starvation of the donor animal. Isolated incubated colonocytes utilized glutamine at about 5.5 mumol/min per g dry wt., which is about 21% of the maximum activity of glutaminase. The major end-products of glutamine metabolism were glutamate, aspartate, alanine and ammonia. Starvation of the donor animal decreased the rate of glutamine utilization by colonocytes, which is accompanied by a decrease in glutamate formation and in the maximum activity of glutaminase. Isolated incubated colonocytes utilized acetoacetate at about 3.5 mumol/min per g dry wt. This rate was not markedly affected by addition of glucose or by starvation of the donor animal. When colonocytes were incubated with n-butyrate, both acetoacetate and 3-hydroxybutyrate were formed, with the latter accounting for only about 19% of total ketones produced.     

Circulating glucose, insulin and ketone bodies and enzymes of ketone body utilization in brain mitochondria from suckling rats treated with high L-thyroxine doses

The neo-T4 syndrome was induced by subcutaneous administration of a total dose of (150 micrograms) L-thyroxine (T4) to rats from their first day of live. Neo-T4 animals and their controls were sacrificed at 2, 4, 8, 11, 14, 22 and 25 days of age. A decrease in body weight was observed from the second day of life, and a decrease in brain weight from the eighth day of life in the neo-T4 animals. Blood glucose and plasma insulin levels were decreased from 2nd day through 22nd day of life. Total plasma ketone bodies and beta-OH butyrate levels increased in the neo-T4 animals with respect to controls. until 8th day, although acetoacetate increased only until 4th day. The activity of key enzymes in the ketone bodies utilization pathway (3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, 3-oxoacid CoA-transferase and acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase) were also measured in the animals brain. We found an activation of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase until 11th day and 3-oxoacid CoA-transferase until 14th day, but no change in acetoacetyl CoA-thiolase was observed. Ketone bodies play a key role as energy substrates and precursors of brain lipids during the period of intense growth and myelination of the CNS. Considering the alterations described in this paper it seems that neo-T4 syndrome could be an interesting model for studying metabolism of those substances in brain.     

Effect of hyperphenylalaninaemia on lipid synthesis from ketone bodies by rat brain.

The effect of hyperphenylalaninaemia on the metabolism of ketone bodies in vivo and in vitro by developing rat brain was investigated. The incorporation in vivo of [14C]acetoacetate into cerebral lipids was decreased by both chronic (for 3 days) and acute (for 6h) hyperphenylalaninaemia induced by injecting phenylalanine into 1-week-old rats. In studies in vitro it was observed that the incorporation of the radioactivity from [14C]acetoacetate and 3-hydroxy[14C]butyrate into cerebral lipids was inhibited by phenyl-pyruvate, but not by phenylalanine. Phenylpyruvate also inhibited the incorporation of 3H from 3H2O into lipids by brain slices metabolizing either 3-hydroxybutyrate or acetoacetate in the presence of glucose. These findings suggest that the decrease in the incorporation in vivo of [14C]acetoacetate into cerebral lipids in hyperphenylalaninaemic rats is most likely caused by phenylpyruvate and not by phenylalanine. Phenylpyruvate as well as phenylalanine had no inhibitory effects on ketone-body-catabolizing enzymes, namely 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, 3-oxo acid CoA-transferase and acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase, in rat brain. Phenylpyruvate but not phenylalanine inhibited the activity of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex from rat and human brain. These findings suggest that the metabolism of ketone bodies is impaired in brains of untreated phenylketonuric patients, and in turn may contribute to the diminution of mental development and function associated with phenylketonuria.     

The effects of ketone bodies,bicarbonate, and calcium on hepatic mitochondrial ketogenesis

The effect of various factors on hepatic mitochondrial ketogenesis was investigated in the rat. A comparison of three different incubation media revealed that bicarbonate ion inhibited the rate of ketone body production and decreased the ratio of 3-hydroxybutyrate/acetoacetate. The addition of 0.8 mm calcium caused significant inhibition of ketogenesis from both octanoate (40–50%) and palmitate (25–30%) and no change in the ratio of 3-hydroxybutyrate/acetoacetate. In the presence of components of the malate/aspartate shuttle, the inhibition by calcium was 80% or more with both substrates. Experimental alteration of the respiratory state of the mitochondria from state 3 to state 4 was associated with an enhanced rate of ketogenesis. The addition of ketone bodies themselves had marked effects on the rate of ketone body production. Increasing amounts of exogenously added acetoacetate were accompanied by increasing rates of total ketone body production reflecting enhanced 3-hydroxybutyrate synthesis. In the presence of added 3-hydroxybutyrate, there was striking inhibition of ketogenesis. Rotenone, which prevents oxidation of NADH₂ via the electron transport chain, almost completely inhibited ketone body synthesis. This inhibition was partially overcome by the addition of acetoacetate which regenerates NAD⁺ from NADH₂ during conversion to 3-hydroxybutyrate. These observations provide evidence for additional sites of metabolic control over hepatic ketogenesis.     

A new method for the determination of 14C radioactivity in ketone bodies.

A reaction vessel is described consisting of a simple reaction chamber fixed to an ordinary liquid scintillation-counting vial which allows the direct determination of radioactivity in acetone as well as separately in the carboxyl and acetone moieties of acetoacetate and 3-hydroxybutyrate. Radioactivity and its distribution between carbon 1 and carbons 2 through 4 can be determined in total ketone bodies as well as sequentially in acetone, acetoacetate, and 3-hydroxybutyrate. Recoveries with labeled ketone bodies under a variety of analytical conditions are presented.     

Role of acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase in acetoacetate utilization by tumor cells

Tumors of peripheral tissues contain low levels of succinyl CoA-acetoacetate CoA transferase activity which is not induced in vitro by prolonged cultivation in 2.5 mM DL-3-hydroxybutyrate. Although this enzyme is considered to be the main agent controlling the extent to which ketone bodies serve as metabolic substrates such tumors metabolize D(-)-3-hydroxy[3(14)C]butyrate to 14CO2. Also addition of 3-hydroxybutyrate and/or acetoacetate reduces the amount of 14CO2 produced from D-[U-14C] glucose suggesting a common metabolic intermediate. These observations can be accounted for by the presence of acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase, an enzyme which is able to synthesize acetoacetyl-CoA directly from acetoacetate, ATP and coenzyme A. This is the first demonstration of this enzyme in tumor tissue. The rate of metabolism of acetoacetate by this enzyme is sufficient to account for the production of CO2 from 3-hydroxybutyrate.