ACTIVATION AND OXIDATION OF LONG CHAIN FATTY ACIDS BY RAT BRAIN *

I t is generally considered that the oxidation of fatty acids by brain tissue occurs to only a very limited extent or not a t all (QUASTEL and WHEATLEY, 3933; WEINHOUSE, MILLINGTON and VOLK, 1950). It has been shown, however, that fatty acid oxidation can take place in brain slices and minces (GEYER, MAITHEWS and STARE, 1949; VOLK et al., 1952). We have been interested in the metabolism of lipids by brain, and have studied the presence and distribution of some of the enzymes involved in the metabolism of long chain fatty acids. The extent of oxidation of long chain fatty acids by brain mitochondria has been followed with radioactive patmitic acid and palmityl coenzyme A. The results obtained are presented below.