Effect of hypoxia and short-term fasting on the plasma acetoacetic acid level in rats of different ages.
The acetoacetic acid level in rat plasma was studied by Walker's method (Walker 1954) during ontogenesis, after 20 min exposure to altitude hypoxia (7,000 or 9,000 m) or after short-term (24 h) deprivation of food and water. Wistar rats of both sexes, bred at the authors' department, were employed. The results confirmed earlier findings on the acetoacetic acid level during ontogenesis (Drahota et al. 1963) in addition, it was found that the level of the given acid in the rats' blood fell steadily during the whole of the pre-weaning period. Short-term deprivation of food and water significantly raised the plasma acetoacetic acid level in 5- and 10-day-old and adult rats; the maximum absolute increase was found in the youngest age groups. Hypoxia corresponding to 7,000 m significantly raised the plasma acetoacetic acid level in 5- and 10-day-old rats, but not in adult animals. Hypoxia corresponding to 9,000 m raised it significantly in 5-day-old animals only. We associate these findings with the possible utilization of acetoacetic acid, as a suitable energy substrate, by certain tissues, in particular the tissues of the CNS, in the youngest organisms.
D000090:Acetoacetates / Q000097:blood*; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014868:Water Deprivation
D000090:Acetoacetates; C016635:acetoacetic acid