[Characteristics of the oxidation of the intermediates of carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the liver mitochondria of young rabbits during perinatal development].

Respiratory activity of liver mitochondria has been studied in perinatal rabbits (29 day old embryos, neonatal and 30 day old rabbits). Intermediates of carbohydrate metabolism, pyruvate (with malate), as well as of fat metabolism, caprylate, were used as oxidative substrates for mitochondria. Pyruvate was shown to be oxidized more intensively, particularly in liver mitochondria of newborn rabbits. Mitochondrial enzyme system is supposed to promote the oxidation of carbohydrate substrates which is characteristic of a given tissue during perinatal development.