EFFECTS OF HYDRAZINE ON FAT TRANSPORT AS AFFECTED BY BLOOD GLUCOSE CONCENTRATION

¹ Physiological Chemistry Section, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas

In fasted rats, hydrazine (1.15-1.2 mmol/kg iv., about 60% of the LD5O) elevates plasma free fatty acids (FFA), speeds the hepatic secretion of triglycerides into the blood plasma and within 3 hr almost doubles the quantity of liver total fatty acids. The present experiments were performed to ascertain the extent to which these effects are associated with a reduced concentration of blood glucose. The glucose-lowering effect of hydrazine was essentially avoided by feeding glucose or starch or by using fed animals. The FFA-elevating effect was then greatly reduced, but was still observed unless the blood glucose exceeded 1.1 mg/ml. Since the effects of hydrazine on liver total fatty acids and on the rate of triglyceride secretion into the blood could be largely prevented by maintaining the blood glucose level, it was concluded that these effects depend chiefly on plasma FFA concentration.