THE MEASUREMENT OF MITOCHONDRIAL BETA-OXIDATION BY RELEASE OF (H2O)-H-3 FROM [9,10-H-3]HEXADECANOATE - APPLICATION TO SKELETAL-MUSCLE AND THE USE OF INHIBITORS AS MODELS OF METABOLIC DISEASE

We describe the use of a simple assay for β-oxidation which depends on the release of 3H2O from [9,10-3H]hexadecanoate. This was compared with the use of [1-14C]hexadecanoate which gave comparable results when all the products of β-oxidation were measured. The prediction that 75% of the tritium is released as 3H2O and 25% as [2-3H]acetyl units was confirmed. The assay was used successfully to demonstrate impaired β-oxidation in tissue preparations from rats treated with etomoxir and methylenecyclopropylpyruvate which are known inhibitors of β-oxidation. Abnormalities of β-oxidation were also detected in skeletal muscle from patients with defects of mitochondrial oxidation. © 1992.