Metabolic abnormalities observed in the rat after administration of sodium dipropylacetate

Sodium dipropylacetate (DPA) was administered to 10 normally fed rats and 5 biotin-deficient rats. The effects of DPA were measured on propionic acid and glycine levels in urine and blood; and on hepatic propionyl-CoA carboxylase (PCC) activity. No abnormal amounts of propionic acid were found in the blood and urine of the treated rats. Hyperglycinemia and significant constant hyperglycinuria were observed in all animals given DPA, but without significant differences between normal and biotin-deprived rats. DPA treatment did not affect PCC activity in vivo or vitro. These results indicate that the abnormalities of the glycine metabolism are not linked to an accumulation of propionic acid due to PCC inhibition by DPA.