The comparative oxidation of palmitic, oleic and succinic acids by rat and bat brown adipose tissue homogenates as a function of temperature

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Abstract
The oxidation of 1‐14C‐palmitic, 1‐14C‐oleic and 2‐14C‐succinic acids to14CO2 by homogenates of brown adipose tissue (BAT) from rat and bat was studied as a function of temperature. In all cases bat BAT gave a greater conversion of added fatty acids to14CO2 than did rat BAT. The conversion of labeled succinate to14CO2 is greater in the bat than in the rat only at low temperatures. In all paired observations below 30 C the energy of activation (EA) of the bat preparations are lower than the rat. This indicates a greater thermal efficiency for the oxidation of the indicated substrates. The bat BAT homogenates show a greater efficiency than rat homogenates in the amount of succinate oxidation associated with the oxidation of long chain fatty acids to CO2. The significance of these findings to thermogenesis by BAT in hibernation and cold adaptation is discussed.