Aspects of the Role of Lecithin: Cholesterol Acyltransferase in Metabolism of Triglycerides

Abstract

An increased TG secretion from the liver may lead to an increased secretion of LCAT. Studies on isolated rat hepatocytes have shown

1. Oleic acid added to the medium stimulates TG and LCAT secretion in a similar way.

2. Cycloheximide, colchicine, 4-amino-pyrazolopyrimidine, and D-galactosamine depress the secretion of both TG and LCAT.

3. There is a positive linear correlation between TG and LCAT secretion in cell preparations from rats operated on with ventromedial hypothalamic lesions.

Treatment of rats with orotic acid resulted in maintained plasma LCAT activity despite very low TG concentration. This indicates that LCAT secretion is not dependent upon an intact TG secretion.

Key Words:

• cholesterol esterification
• isolated hepatocytes
• lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase
• lipoproteins
• orotic acid
• triglycerides