Oxidation of Palmitate-1-C14 by Red Blood Cells.

Washed, red blood cells from normal, fed, adult rats were incubated in vitro in a modified Tyrode phosphate medium with palmitate-1-C14, the oxidation of which was demonstrated and measured by following the incorporation of radioactivity in the respiratory CO2. Rate of palmitate oxidation to CO2 has been shown to increase with number of red blood cells in the incubating vessels and with concentration of palmitate, and also depends on duration of the incubation. The data are discussed in relation to the present concepts of fat metabolism in vivo.