title: Rat acetoacetate decarboxylase: its role in the disposal of 4C-ketone bodies by the fetus.
abstract: 21-day pregnant rats show high tissular and plasmatic acetone concentrations when submitted to a 48-hr fast. This rise is, in fact, associated with an enhanced placental and fetal acetoacetate decarboxylase activity. We propose that acetone formation by the fetus could be a mechanism for pH maintenance and that acetoacetate decarboxylase can play a significant role in the handling of 4C-ketone bodies under conditions in which the substrate concentration cannot easily be controlled by other physiological mechanisms.
mesh_terms: D000096:Acetone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000201:enzymology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007657:Ketone Bodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D010920:Placenta / Q000201:enzymology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D007657:Ketone Bodies; D000096:Acetone; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases; C023743:acetoacetate decarboxylase