D- and L-Lactate Catabolism to CO2 in Rat Tissues

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Abstract
The rates of oxidative catabolism of D- and L-lactate were compared in various rat tissues. Uniformly labeled D- or L-[14C]lactate was incubated at 37.degree. C in a closed system with tissue homogenates in Krebs-Ringer phosphate buffer. Evolved 14CO2 was trapped in a center well containing a fluted filter paper saturated with strong base and the radioactivity determined. The ratio of L-lactate to D-lactate oxidation was greatest in brain, followed by kidney, heart and liver. In liver the rate of oxidation of D-lactate exceeded that of L-lactate, in heart the rates were not significantly different and in the other 2 tissues L-lactate was oxidized more rapidly than D-lactate. The rate of D-lactate catabolism is considerable and is relatively greater than had been reported previously.