INTESTINAL UPTAKE AND METABOLISM OF FATTY-ACIDS IN THE CHICK

Uptake and metabolism of fatty acids in the duodenal mucosa of the chi ck was studied. In vitro incubations of a mucosal homogenate with C-14 -oleic acid indicated that together with glycerides, water-soluble C-1 4 compounds and (CO2)-C-14 were formed; the latter comprised approxima tely one quarter of metabolites formed. Studies in chickens introducin g C-14-oleic acid into the duodenum and determining appearance of labe l in the cannulated pancreaticoduodenal vein and brachial artery indic ated that similar processes occur in vivo, with both labeled glyceride s and water-soluble compounds appearing in the blood. Quantitatively, metabolism of C-14-oleic acid to nonlipid compounds amounted to some 1 5% of the dose after 60 min. These findings suggest that a considerabl e portion of ingested fatty acids are metabolized before transport to the circulation.