The Utilization of Carbon Dioxide by the Mature Rat in the Formation of Fatty Acids

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Abstract
A report is given of the incorporation of C14 from CO2 in the saturated and unsaturated fatty acids of the rat. The fatty acids were derived from expts. in which 2 unfasted rats were given Na2CO3 or CaCO3 intraperitoneally. The purified total fatty acids were separated into saturated and unsaturated fractions. The fatty acids were decarboxylated in a stream of N2 and the evolved CO2 was collected in saturated Ba(OH)2. Unsaturated fatty acids were converted to solid Ca salts before counting. A very small fraction in the C of administered CO2 was incorporated in the saturated fatty acids and, to a lesser extent, in the unsaturated fatty acids. The C14 content of the carboxyl C atoms of the saturated and total fatty acids was twice as high as the avg. of all the C atoms in the respective fatty acids. The specific activities of the C14 in the glycerol parts of the fat molecules were 10 times greater than those of the corresponding mixed fatty acids.