Lipoprotein lipase and uptake of triacylglycerol, cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine from chylomicrons by mammary and adipose tissue of lactating rats in vivo.

The relationship between lipoprotein lipase activity and uptake of triacylglycerol, cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine from chylomicrons was studied in mammary gland and adipose tissue of rats lactating 6--7 days. 60% of triacylglycerol [14C]oleic acid, 13% of [3H]cholesterol and 8% of [32P]phosphatidylcholine in chylomicrons injected intravenously were taken up within 11 min by mammary gland whereas negligible amounts were taken up by adipose tissue. Non-suckling for 44 h decreased markedly uptake of all lipids by mammary gland and retarded clearance of chylomicrons from blood, while it increased significantly uptake of triacylglycerol fatty acids and cholesterol by adipose tissue. Non-suckling also decreased lipoprotein lipase activity in mammary gland from 7.7 to 0.4 units/g, while it increased activity in adipose tissue from 0.1 to 2.7 units/g. These findings indicate that lipoprotein lipase is involved in uptake of chylomicron triacyglycerol and cholesterol by mammary gland and adipose tissue, and also in uptake of chylomicron phosphatidylcholine by mammary gland. They also show that reciprocal changes in lipoprotein lipase activity in mammary gland and adipose tissue, as occur during lactation, result in diversion of chylomicron lipids from one tissue to the other.

Lipoprotein lipase and uptake of chylomicron triglyceride by skeletal muscle of rats.

Uptake of chylomicron triglyceride and lipoprotein lipase was studied in red and white skeletal muscles, heart, and adipose tissue of rats. Retention of triglyceride fatty acids 10 min after injection was 1.6%/g in heart and adipose tissue, 0.2-0.4%/g in red (soleus and diaphragm) muscles, and 0.1%/g in white (psoas minor) muscles of fed rats. Fasting (24 h) increased retention two- to fourfold in red skeletal muscles and heart, had no effect in white muscles, and decreased retention greater than 75% in adipose tissue. Lipoprotein lipase activity in fed rats was lowest in white muscles and in certain red (posterior belly of digastric and medial head of triceps brachii) musclws, intermediate in soleus and diaphragm muscles and adipose tissue, and highest in heart. Fasting doubled lipoprotein lipase activity in all red skeletal muscles and heart, had no effect in white muscles, and decreased activity 60% in adipose tissue. The findings indicate that triglyceride uptake is related to lipoprotein lipase activity in skeletal muscle and the changes in enzyme activity during fasting divert blood triglyceride to red skeletal muscles.