Studies on the carbohydrate metabolism of sheep. XVI. Partition of ketone bodies in blood, tissues, and urine

Abstract

Acetone comprised 0–40% (average 18%) of the acetoacetic acid plus acetone fraction in sheep blood, in which the level of this fraction was 0.6–5.2 mg % (as acetone). Acetoacetic acid was largely converted to acetone during storage of blood at –20°C, with intermittent thawing for analysis. Concentrations of acetoacetic acid in red cells were similar to those in plasma, but those of ß-hydroxybutyric acid were considerably lower. In contrast to acetoacetic acid, ß-hydroxybutyric acid was virtually absent from foetal blood and from brain tissue. Concentrations of both ketone fractions in liver and muscle tissue were about one-half the blood concentrations. The renal clearance of acetoacetic acid plus acetone in hyperketonaemic pregnant ewes was independent of blood level up to 20 mg % and was little affected by rate of urine flow. Clearance values were in the range of 4–9 ml per min, which indicates that most of the acetoacetic acid filtered at the glomeruli is absorbed by the renal tubules. Renal clearance of ß-hydroxybutyric acid was dependent on blood level and was more affected by rate of urine flow than that of acetoacetic acid. Very little ß-hydroxybutyric acid appeared in the urine when blood levels were below 15 mg %. Clearance increased as blood concentration rose above this level, and reached maximum values, mostly of 3–5 ml per min, at blood levels exceeding 30 mg %.