Ketone-body metabolism after surgical stress or partial hepatectomy. Evidence for decreased ketogenesis and a site of control distal to carnitine palmitoyltransferase I

• Published in: Biochemical journal Vol. 241; no. 2; pp. 475 - 481
• Main Authors: Schofield, P S, French, T J, Sugden, M C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 15-01-1987
• Subjects: Acyltransferases - metabolism; Animals; Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase - metabolism; Female; Hepatectomy; Ketone Bodies - blood; Liver - metabolism; Organ Size; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Starvation - blood; Starvation - metabolism; Stress, Physiological - blood; Stress, Physiological - metabolism; Triglycerides - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0264-6021; 1470-8728
• DOI: 10.1042/bj2410475

Rats were subjected to laparotomy, or laparotomy and partial hepatectomy, at 0-48 h before administration of water or medium-chain-length triacylglycerol, having been starved post-operatively. Functional hepatectomies were performed at intervals after the intragastric load. Blood ketone-body concentrations after medium-chain triacylglycerol administration and/or functional hepatectomy of these rats were compared with values obtained in starved control rats. Decreased ketonaemia in response to medium-chain triacylglycerol was observed for up to 48 h after partial hepatectomy and at 1 and 2 h after laparotomy, but not at 24 or 48 h after laparotomy. Rates of ketone-body clearance after functional hepatectomy were unaffected by prior laparotomy or partial hepatectomy. Ketonaemia after medium-chain-triacylglycerol administration was only partially blocked by inhibition of CPT I (carnitine palmitoyltransferase I). The results demonstrate sustained effects of partial hepatectomy and short-term effects of surgical stress to decrease ketonaemia via inhibition of ketogenesis at site(s) distal to CPT I.