The role of the kidney in the removal of ketone bodies under different acid-base status of the rat.

Arterial blood concentrations of ketone bodies, pyruvate, lactate, citrate, and oxoglutarate were measured in normal and in nephrectomized rats. The rate of removal from the circulation of an infused acetoacetate load has been studied in both groups of animals. Blood oxoglutarate and ketone bodies remained unchanged in nephrectomized rats. Blood citrate level rose rapidly. In rats with normal blood pH the contribution of the kidneys to the removal of ketone bodies is 28%, whereas in metabolic alkalosis, it is less than 2%. In nephrectomized rats with normal blood pH and in rats with metabolic alkalosis the ratio between beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate is very high in comparison with rats having metabolic acidosis. These data suggest that in metabolic alkalosis the kidneys are not able to utilize ketone bodies.