Palmitate and octanoate metabolism in bovine mammary tissue.

Effect of glucose on palmitate and octanoate metabolism was studied in bovine mammary tissue slices. Glucose stimulated palmitate esterification principally to form partial glycerides while decreasing palmitate oxidation. Glucose stimulated octanoate but not palmitate incorporation into triacylglycerols, suggesting that availability of intracellular medium-chain fatty acids may limit the final acylation reaction in triacylglycerol synthesis.