Release of free fatty acids from rat cerebral synaptosomes under in vitro hypoxia.

Release of free fatty acids from rat cerebral synaptosomes, synaptic plasma membranes and mitochondria was studied under in vitro hypoxia. The release increased in the absence of oxygen. Removal of calcium ions from the medium suppressed the release. These trends were similar in every subcellular fraction tested. The data imply that the release of free fatty acids is caused by lack of oxygen but not lack of glucose, and that the presence of extracellular calcium is injurious to cells. An energy-independent mechanism for the release of free fatty acids is suggested.