A note on the synthesis of fatty acids in bone marrow homogenates as affected by X-radiation

Abstract

1. 1. The synthesis of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in bone marrow homogenates from untreated and X-radiated rabbits has been studied with α- 14C-acetate as a precursor. 2. 2. Two and three-fold increases, respectively, over preradiation levels in saturated and unsaturated fatty acid synthesis were observed immediately after radiation. 3. 3. Whereas saturated fatty acid synthesis, which approached control values at 48 hours after radiation, again increased 3 1 2 times 72 hours after radiation, unsaturated fatty acid synthesis had fallen to 18% of the preradiation value. At 158 hours after radiation, the relationship between saturated and unsaturated fatty acid synthesis was reversed since unsaturated fatty acid synthesis had risen to 283% and saturated fatty acid synthesis had dropped to 58% of the preradiation value. 4. 4. Oxygen uptake and 14CO 2 production increased immediately after radiation, reaching preradiation values 48 hours after exposure. 14CO 2 evolution decreased steadily throughout the experimental period while oxygen uptake was unchanged 158 hours after exposure. 5. 5. Hemin synthesis after radiation has been found to behave in a manner similar to that observed in other studies. 6. 6. The term W has been introduced to denote the capacity of the bone marrow to synthesize fatty acids from α- 14C-acetate.