Influence of carbocromene on free fatty acid metabolism of the heart.

In view of the fact that carbocromene (C) influences the metabolic processes in the heart muscle, its effect on the transport of substrates into the heart tissue was investigated. In rat heart slices C inhibits the uptake of [1-14C]palmitic acid up to 40%, while 14CO2 production is reduced to the same extent. At the same time oxygen consumption diminished by about 20%. Using 3-O-[14C] methyl-D-glucose as metabolic marker it was shown that the uptake of glucose into the heart tissue increased by 30% under the influence of C. From these results it can be concluded that C inhibits the oxidation of FFA in favor of glucose and diminishes the oxygen-wasting effect of FFA.