Levo-carnitine, its derivatives, and free fatty acids in serum, heart, liver, and muscle of both tumoral and alcoholic rats.
We present a comparative study of carnitine-related fatty acid metabolism in rats bearing a Yoshida sarcoma, in chronic alcoholic rats, and in control rats. Levels of levo-carnitine, acetylcarnitine, acylcarnitine, and free fatty acids were studied in serum and in different tissues--liver, heart, and skeletal muscle--of each group of rats. Chronic alcoholic rats showed high levels of free fatty acids and elevated levo-carnitine and acetylcarnitine levels relative to those of the controls. Biosynthesis of carnitine appeared to be increased, whereas fatty acid oxidation was depressed. Tumor-bearing rats also showed high levels of free fatty acids in both serum and tissues. However, levels of levo-carnitine were decreased in this group. It seems that the tumor not only utilizes the precursors of carnitine biosynthesis but also increases carnitine expenditure.
De la Morena
E
E
Department of Biochemistry, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
Berlanas
E J
EJ
Gomez
C
C
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000032:analysis*; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis; D009132:Muscles / Q000032:analysis; D009206:Myocardium / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012517:Sarcoma, Yoshida / Q000378:metabolism*
D005227:Fatty Acids; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D002331:Carnitine