Uptake of Ketone Bodies in Perfused Hindquarter and Kidney of Starved, Thyrotoxic, and Diabetic Rats

AbstractTo elucidate the peripheral disposal of ketone bodies in hyperketonemia accompanied with starvation, hyperthyroidism, or diabetes mellitus, the uptake of acetoacetic acid (AcAc) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB) was investigated in the perfused hindquarter and kidney of starved, thyrotoxic, and diabetic rats. Thyrotoxicity was induced by daily subcutaneous injection of thyroxine (100 μg/kg/day) for 7 days, and diabetes mellitus was induced by intraperitoneal streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) injection. Plasma concentration of AcAc and BOHB was significantly higher in starved, thyrotoxic, and diabetic rats than in controls. The hindquarter or kidney of rats was perfused with synthetic medium containing 0.2 or 1.5 mM AcAc or BOHB for 30 min at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/g muscle wt/min or 3.2-3.5 ml/kidney/min, respectively. In perfused hindquarter, the uptake of AcAc and BOHB was significantly reduced in starved and diabetic rats, but not in thyrotoxic rats. In perfused kidney, the uptake of AcAc and BOHB was not si...