Citrate synthesis from fatty acids and amino acids in rat ventral prostate.

The source of the remarkably high citrate level of prostate was investigated in prostate fragments. L-Aspartate and alpha-keto-glutarate formed oxaloacetate through transamination. Neither pyruvate nor acetate was as effective as palmitate in increasing the citrate level. The result suggested that the source of citrate in rat ventral prostate is oxaloacetate from amino acid transamination and acetyl CoA from fatty acid oxidation. Furthermore, the result indicated that carbohydrates contribute little to citrate production in ventral prostate.