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Comparison of Rates of Oxidation of Propionate-2-C¹⁴ by Liver Slices from the Calf and Mature Bovine

Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg

ABSTRACT

Investigations with the bovine and other ruminants have established (1, 2, 3) that the onset of rumen fermentation is associated with increased blood levels of low molecular weight fatty acids which are available for metabolism. These increases have also been found to be related to various changes in the intermediary metabolism of ruminants (7, 8). Sander et al. (9) observed that the administration of sodium propionate or sodium butyrate to young calves caused development of the rumen mucosa. It has been suggested that certain metabolic changes, including the ability to metabolize the low molecular weight fatty acids, may result from the stimulus of their availability after the onset of rumen fermentation. To test this hypothesis, the rates of propionate oxidation by liver slices from nonruminating dairy calves 2 to 3 wk. of age and mature, grade dairy cows were compared in vitro. Propionate oxidation was determined from the amount of C¹⁴0₂ produced during the metabolism of propionate-2-C¹⁴ by the tissue slices.

¹ Present address: Department of Anatomy, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond.