The Metabolism of Fatty Acids in the Rat V. Palmitoleic Acid

Abstract H 3 ‐palmitoleic and 1‐C 14 ‐palmitic acid were simultaneously injected into fasted or refed male rats and the disappearance of label from the blood, the tissue distribution of label after 2 and 320 min as well as the recirculation of label into the blood were studied. It was found that the injected palmitoleic acid was taken up and oxidized at a higher rate by the cells than was the injected palmitic acid. At short times, more H 3 ‐label than C 14 ‐label was found in the neutral fat in most tissues, indicating that palmitoleic acid is preferentially incorporated into the glycerides. The total lipids of the heart contained more palmitoleic acid label than palmitic acid label in the refed rats. In all the mentioned respects palmitoleic acid was metabolized in the same way as oleic acid. A useful method for biosynthesis of labeled palmitoleic acid from labeled palmitic acid is reported.