Hepatocellular influx of [14C]oleate reflects membrane transport rather than intracellular metabolism or binding.

When [14C]oleate bound to bovine serum albumin was incubated at 37 degrees C for 7 min with isolated rat hepatocytes in the absence of glucose, the cumulative oleate uptake curve had two components: a rapid, linear segment over the first 30 sec, followed by a slower, curvilinear component. At 173 microM [14C]oleate/albumin (1:1, mol/mol), the initial component had a slope (Vo) of 118 +/- 18 pmol per min per 5 X 10(4) hepatocytes (mean +/- SD). During this initial 30 sec, virtually no oleate was oxidized, and less than 11% was esterified. By 5 min, 79% was esterified; oxidation never exceeded 4%. Addition of 2 mM glucose significantly increased oleate esterification and thereby available oleate binding sites on cytosolic fatty acid binding protein but had no influence on Vo. Pretreatment with trypsin reduced Vo by 49 +/- 15%. These data indicate that the initial component of the oleate uptake curve reflects predominantly influx, whereas the subsequent component reflects a balance between influx, efflux, and intracellular metabolism. Influx is independent of intracellular binding, oxidation, and esterification and may reflect a membrane-associated carrier-mediated process.