Evidence that medium-chain fatty acid oxidation can support an active gluconeogenesis in the suckling newborn rat

Long-chain fatty acid oxidation was inhibited in 1-day-old suckling rats by 2-tetradecylglycidic acid. Within 6 h it induced profound hypoketonemia and hypoglycemia together with a decreased rate of gluconeogenesis estimated from [U-14-C]-lactate incorporation into glucose. Medium-chain triglyceride feeding restored, within 3 h, normal blood concentrations of ketones and glucose as well as a high gluconeogenic rate from [U-14-C]-lactate. It is concluded that in the suckling newborn rat 2-tetradecylglycidic acid is effective in inhibiting selectively long-chain fatty acid oxidation and that medium-chain fatty acid oxidation can support an active gluconeogenesis.