Variations in the $sup 13$C/$sup 12$C isotopic ratio in the animal metabolism (in French)
Following the work undertaken by Duchesne et al., a synthesis of the results obtained since 1968 is presented. Differences up to 10 percent are observed in the isotopic ratio $sup 13$C/$sup 12$ of the CO$sub 2$ exhaled by various animals as a function of their diet and especially of the presence in their diet of vegetables characterized by a C4 photosynthetic pathway (such as maize). Weak but significant variations of the CO$sub 2$ isotopic ratio are also observed during starvation, after injection of hormones which regulate the glycaemia or even simply in relation to the metabolic rhythms of normal digestion; these variations seem to be correlated with the modifications arising in the relative proportion of substrates from which carbon dioxide is formed. Small isotopic fractionations, appearing mainly in bones and fats, were also shown by combustion of various tissues. Moreover, a change in diet (use of corn) affects clearly, not only the exhaled CO$sub 2$, but also, within a few days, the mean $sup 13$C content of organs, mainly in the case of the liver. These metabolic fractionations remain, however, limited enough to use the $sup 13$C content, naturally a little higher, of C4 photosynthetic vegetables as a tracer in order to follow some metabolic processes. An application of this is presented by way of a glucose tolerance test. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Univ. Liege, Sart Tilman, Belgium
- NSA Number:
- NSA-33-007655
- OSTI ID:
- 4155274
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Symposium on isotope ratios as pollutant source and behavior indicators, Vienna, Austria, 18 Nov 1974; Other Information: See STI/PUB--382; CONF-741120--. Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-76; Related Information: Isotope ratios as pollutant source and behaviour indicators
- Country of Publication:
- IAEA
- Language:
- French
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