Oxidation of D(-)3-hydroxybutyrate administered to rats with extensive burns

Although the suppressive effect of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) on post-traumatic protein catabolism in traumatized patients is well documented, the oxidation of exogenously administered 3-OHB during catabolic stress has not been investigated. The present study was designed to evaluate, using radioactive isotopes, total body oxidation in rats with and without burn stress to which 3-OHB had been exogenously administered, in comparison with total body oxidation in such rats that had received glucose. The rats were divided into four groups, based on whether or not a 30% full-thickness burn was inflicted, and the type of infusate they received after the burn, namely, 3-OHB or glucose. The total exhaled CO2 was collected for 6h after the infusion was commenced, and 14CO2 was assayed in a liquid scintillation spectrometer. Oxidation of the infusate was calculated from the percentage of exhaled 14CO2 derived from the infused substrates. The plasma concentration of 3-OHB was significantly increased after the infusion in both the burned and non-burned rats. The total exhaled 14CO2 from the rats infused with glucose decreased from 48.2 +/- 2.4% to 40.8 +/- 3.7% (means +/- SD, P < 0.001) after thermal injury. However, the total exhaled 14CO2 from the rats infused with 3-OHB appeared sooner, and there was no difference in the total expired 14CO2 derived from 3-OHB between the burned and non-burned rats, at 68.1 +/- 2.7% vs 66.4 +/- 3.4%, respectively. These findings suggest that even under conditions of burn stress, 3-OHB can be oxidized normally if the plasma concentration of 3-OHB is elevated by exogenous administration.