Metabolism of palmitate-1-14C in the tissues of rats with streptozotocin diabetes.

The authors studied palmitate-1-14C metabolism in the tissues of rats with streptozotocin diabetes characterized by hyperglycaemia, hypoinsulinaemia and hyperlipaemia. In the tissues of diabetic animals the following changes were found in the uptake and utilization of free fatty acids: 1. In adipose tissue, FFA uptake and incorporation into the total adipose tissue lipids and into the FFA, TG, MG and DG, Pl and CHE fractions diminished. Oxidation to 14CO2 increased. 2. In the liver, FFA uptake and incorporation into the total liver lipids and into the FFA, TG, MG and DG, Pl and CHE fractions increased. Oxidation to 14CO2 remained unchanged. 3. In the diaphragm, FFA uptake and incorporation into the total tissue lipids and into the various lipids fractions (FFA, TG, MG and DG, CHE, Pl) rose. Oxidation to 14CO2 also rose. 4. The kidney displayed no changes in FFA metabolism from any of the metabolic aspects studied. The authors conclude that diabetes, in various tissues, causes changes in FFA metabolism which are unrelated to changes in the adipose tissue and which participate in the resultant lipid levels in the blood.