ACYLCARNITINE METABOLISM DURING FASTING AND AFTER REFEEDING

Carnitine metabolism during starvation and just after refeeding was st udied by the measurement of acylcarnitine (ACR) and total carnitine (T CR) concentration in the serum and liver of mice. Starvation caused ma rked increases in the concentration of serum ACR, and of acid-soluble ACR in the liver. The refeeding caused the quick decrement of serum AC R with a concomitant marked increase in the level of acid-soluble TCR in the liver. Through the use of positron emission tomography in a rhe sus monkey, a marked increase in [2-C-11]acetyl-L-carnitine uptake in the liver was observed after the administration of glucose accompanyin g the decrease of serum ACR. From this study, it is clear that the mam malian liver can salvage and conserve the unused ACR when the state of energy metabolism is improved. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.