Metabolism of formate in the rat

Abstract

Formate oxidation in the rat in vivo is not altered by catalase inhibition with 3‐amino‐i,2,4‐triazole (A T) or by ethanol. However, the oxidation of formate in rats with folate deficiency is markedly reduced. These results suggest that, in the untreated rat, formate is oxidized through the one‐carbon pool. However, in rats with folate deficiency, A T and ethanol did produce an inhibition of formate oxidation, results that suggest the catalase‐peroxidative system may serve as an alternative pathway for formate oxidation. The importance of these data in studies on methanol poisoning is discussed.