Acetoacetate: a major substrate for the synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids by isolated rat hepatocytes.

Evidence is presented that isolated, intact rat hepatocytes can synthesize fatty acids and cholesterol from acetoacetate. The quantitative importance of these processes is evaluated by measuring total rates of fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis by incorporation of 3H from 3H2O. The contribution of acetoacetate varies from 14-54% and from 21-75% for de novo synthesized fatty acids and cholesterol, respectively, depending on the physiological condition of the donor rat. The relative contribution of acetoacetate to cholesterol synthesis is 1.4-2.3-times greater than to fatty acid synthesis.