Effect of pyruvate on octanoate metabolism as influenced by potassium and lithium.

Pyruvate has been shown to decrease the oxidation of palmitic acid by rat liver and kidney slices (l), but to have little influence on octanoate oxidation by liver slices (2, 3). Likewise, prior glucose administration decreased the rate of oxidation of palmitic acid by the rat in viva, but not that of octanoic acid (4). Glucose has also been reported to decrease the oxidation of serum lipides by rat muscle (5). The difference between the behavior of the short and long chain acids has been further studied. The present paper deals with (a) the effect of potassium and lithium on the influence of pyruvate on octanoate oxidation by liver and kidney slices, (b) the effect of pyruvate on octanoate metabolism by spleen and heart slices with an incubation medium high in potassium, and (c) the effect of nn-lactate, glycerol, and acetate on octanoate metabolism by liver and kidney slices with a high potassium medium.