Metabolic Fate of 1,3-Butanediol in the Rat: Liver Tissue Slices Metabolism

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Abstract
The blood acetoacetate, β-hydroxybutyrate, lactate and pyruvate of rats fed 1,3-butanediol (BD) for 3 and 7 weeks were examined. A highly significant increase in blood acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate levels was observed in rats when BD was added to the diet. There was a significant decrease in blood pyruvate levels in animals fed BD for 7 weeks. Addition of BD to liver tissue slices metabolizing glucose to lactate and pyruvate greatly decreased pyruvate levels and increased significantly lactate/pyruvate ratios. With BD and glucose as substrates, there was a large increase in total ketone (acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate) formation when compared to glucose. With BD alone as substrate, ketone bodies were also formed. It is concluded that 1,3-butanediol is metabolized in cytosol similar to alcohol (ethanol) and is converted in the intact rat and tissue slices to ketone bodies prior to its oxidation in tricarboxylic acid cycle.