Ketone bodies dynamics in neonatal rats

• Ketone bodies are produced from fatty acids in liver mitochondria in response to low availability of carbohydrate fuel (in the blood plus stored as glycogen)

• Ketone bodies enter the cells by simple diffusion (beta-hydroxybutirate) or are carried by transporters (acetoacetate) thus supplying energy source that is 40% more efficient than glucose

(Glucose enter the cells being carried by transporters that are under the influence of insulin)