Changes in carnitine-palmitoyl-transferase and carnitine-acetyl-transferase activity in rat kidney during development; effects of fasting.

Developmental changes in the activities of two enzymes catalysing transfer of fatty acid across the mitochondrial membrane (carnitine-palmitoyl-transferase and carnitine-acetyl-transferase) were studied in the kidneys of developing rats from late fetal life to 10 days post-partum and were compared to cortical adult value. The activities of carnitine-palmitoyl-transferase and carnitine-acetyl-transferase increased after birth to reach a maximal value on day 5. Thereafter both activities decreased to reach adult cortical value. The cytochrome c oxidase activity (index of mitochondrial activity) increases continuously from late fetal age to adult. In kidneys of fetuses from starved mothers the carnitine-palmitoyl-transferase activity is higher than that of controls while carnitine-acetyl-transferase activity is not changed. In postmature fetuses (23 days post-coïtum) carnitine-palmitoyl-transferase activity is the same as in 21 days post-coïtum old fetuses. These results are discussed in relation to variations in nutritional and hormonal changes occurring during the perinatal period.