Effect of acetate administration on rats with chronic uremia

To investigate the effect of long-term acetate administration on uremic and nonuremic rats, the blood lipid level, the incorporation of [14C]acetate into exhaled 14CO2 and into tissue lipids, and morphological changes were studied. Experimental chronic uremia was caused by partial nephrectomy, and sodium acetate of NaC1 was given intraperitoneally for approximately 12 weeks. Controls were sham-operated rats given acetate or NaC1. Hyperlipidemia was found in the uremic rats; it was more severe in the rats given acetate. Incorporation of [14C]acetate into 14CO2 was lower in uremic rats given acetate than in other groups, and incorporation into liver lipids was not different in different groups. Small fat droplets had accumulated diffusely in the hepatocytes of nonuremic and uremic rats, but accumulation was more severe in the former. Large fat droplets were found in rats given acetate, mostly in the periphery of liver lobules. Uremic rats given NaC1 did not have such changes. The results suggested that chronic acetate administration may contribute to hyperlipidemia in uremic rats and to lipid accumulation in hepatocytes in both uremic and nonuremic rats, causing fatty degeneration of the liver.