Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Stearic acid unlike shorter-chain saturated fatty acids is poorly utilized for triacylglycerol synthesis and β-oxidation in cultured rat hepatocytes

  • Articles
  • Published:
Lipids

Abstract

Utilization of stearate as compared to various saturated fatty acids for cholesterol and lipid synthesis and β-oxidation was determined in primary culture of rat hepatocytes. At 0.5 mmol/L in the medium, stearate (18:0) adequately solubilized by albumin was less inhibitory to cholesterol synthesis from [2-14C] acetate than myristate (14:0) and palmitate (16:0) (68% vs. 91 and 88% inhibition, respectively). The rate of incorporation into cholesterol from [1-14C] stearate (3.0±0.6 nmol/mg protein/4 h) was 37-, 1.8-, and 7.8-fold of that from myristate, palmitate, and oleate, respectively. Conversely, the rate of [1-14C] stearate incorporation into total glycerolipids was 88–90% lower than that of labeled palmitate, myristate, and oleate. The rate of [1-14C] stearate incorporation into triacylglycerol (3.6±0.4 nmol/mg protein/4 h) was 6–8% of that from myristate, palmitate, oleate, and linoleate. The rate of stearate incorporation into phospholipids was the lowest among tested fatty acids, whereas the rate of mono- and diacylglycerol synthesis was the highest with stearate treatment. The rate of β-oxidation as measured by CO2 and acid soluble metabolite production was also the lowest with [1-14C] stearate treatment at 22.7 nmol/mg protein/4 h, which was 35–40% of those from other [1-14C] labeled fatty acids. A greater proportion of stearate than other fatty acids taken up by the hepatocytes remained free and was not metabolized. Clearly, stearate as compared to shorter-chain saturated fatty acids was less efficiently oxidized and esterified to triacylglycerol in cultured rat hepatocytes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

ASM:

acid-soluble metabolites

BSA:

bovine serum albumin

DMEM:

Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium

FBS:

fetal bovine serum

LDL:

low density lipoprotein

References

  1. DHHS (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) (1987) Monthly Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 36: The Advance Report of Final Mortality Statistics, 1985, DHOWS publication no. (PHS)87-1120, National Center for Health and Human Services, Hyattsville, MD, 48 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  2. ACSH (American Council on Science and Health.) (1988) Diet and Coronary Heart Disease, pp. 4–39, ACSH, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Grundy, S.M., and Denke, M.A. (1990) Dietary Influences on Serum Lipids and Lipoproteins,J. Lipid Res. 31, 1149–1172.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kinsell, L.W., Michaels, G.D., Partridge, F.W., Boling, L.A., Balch, H.E., and Cochrane, G.C. (1953) Effect upon Serum Cholesterol and Phospholipids of Diets Containing Large Amounts of Vegetable Fat,Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 1, 224–231.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ahrens, E.H., Hirsch, J., Isull, W., Taltas, T.T., Blonstrant, R., and Peterson, M.L. (1957) The Influence of Dietary Fats on Serum-Lipid Levels in Man,Lancet 1, 943–953.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Kannel, W.B., Castelli, W., Gordon, T., and McNamara, D.J. (1971) Serum Cholesterol, Lipoproteins and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: The Framingham Study,Ann. Intern. Med. 74, 1–12.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Grundy, S.M., (1986) Cholesterol and Coronary Heart Disease. A New Era,J.A.M.A. 256, 2849–2859.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Keys, A., Anderson, J.T., and Grande, F. (1965) Serum Cholesterol Response to Change in the Diet. IV. Particular Saturated Fatty Acids in the Diet,Metabolism 14, 776–787.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hegsted, M.D., McGandy, R.B., Meyers, M.L., and Stare, F.J. (1965) Quantitative Effects of Dietary Fat on Serum Cholesterol in Man,Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 17, 281–295.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Mattson, F.H., and Grundy, S.M. (1985) Comparison of Effects of Dietary Saturated, Monounsaturated, and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Plasma Lipids and Lipoproteins in Man,J. Lipid. Res. 26, 194–202.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Grundy, S.M., Vega, G.L. (1988) Plasma Cholesterol Responsiveness to Saturated Fatty Acids,Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 47, 822–824.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Bonanome, A., and Grundy, S.M. (1988) Effect of Dietary Stearic Acid on Plasma Cholesterol and Lipoprotein Levels,N. Engl. J. Med. 318, 1244–1248.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Denke, M.A., and Grundy, S.M. (1991) Effects of Fats High in Stearic Acid on Lipid and Lipoprotein Concentrations in Men,Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 54, 1036–1040.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kris-Etherton, P.M., Derr, J., Mitchell, D.C., Mustard, V.A., Russell, M.E., McDonnell, E.T., Salabsky, D., and Pearson, T.A. (1993) The Role of Fatty Acid Saturation on Plasma Lipids, Lipoproteins and Apolipoproteins: I. Effects of Whole Food Diets High in Cocoa Butter, Olive Oil, Soybean Oil, Dairy Butter, and Milk Chocolate on the Plasma Lipids of Young Men,Metabolism, 42, 121–129.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Monsma, C.C., and Ney, D.M. (1993) Interrelationship of Stearic Acid Content and Triacylglycerol Composition of Lard, Beef Tallow and Cocoa Butter in Rats,Lipids 28, 539–547.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Apgar, J.L., Shively, C.A., and Tarka, Jr., S.M. (1987) Digestibility of Cocoa Butter and Corn Oil and Their Influence on Fatty Acid Distribution in Rats,J. Nutr. 117, 660–665.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Mitchell, D.C., McMahon, K.E., Shively, C.A., Apgar, J.L., and Kris-Etherton, P.M. (1989) Digestibility of Cocoa Butter and Corn Oil in Human Subjects: A Preliminary Study,Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 50, 983–986.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Bergstedt, S.E., Hayashi, H., Kritchevsky, D., and Tso, P. (1990) A Comparison of Absorption of Glycerol Tristearate and Glycerol Trioleate by Rat Small Intestine,Am. J. Physiol. 259, G386-G393.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Woollett, L.A., Spady, D.K., and Dietschy, J.M. (1992) Regulatory Effects of the Saturated Fatty Acids 6:0 Through 18:0 on Hepatic Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor Activity in the Hamster,J. Clin. Invest., 89, 1133–1141.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Bonanome, A., and Grundy, S.M. (1989) Intestinal Absorption of Stearic Acid After Consumption of High Fat Meals in Humans,J. Nutr. 119, 1556–1560.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Bonanome, A., Bennet, M., and Grundy, S.M. (1992) Metabolic Effects of Dietary Stearic Acid in Mice: Changes in the Fatty Acid Composition of Triglycerides and Phospholipids in Various Tissues,Atherosclerosis 94, 119–127.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Berry, M.N., and Friend, D.S. (1969) High-Yield Preparation of Isolated Rat Liver Parenchymal Cells. A Biochemical and Fine Structural Study,J. Cell. Biol. 43, 506–520.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Seglen, P.O. (1973) Preparation of Rat Liver Cells. 3. Enzymatic Requirements for Tissue Dispersion,Exp. Cell Res. 82, 391–398.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Yeh, Y.Y., and Yeh, S.M. (1994) Garlic Reduces Plasma Lipids by Inhibiting Hepatic Cholesterol and Triacylglycerol Synthesis,Lipids 29, 189–193.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Folch, J., Lees, M., and Sloane-Stanley, G.H. (1957) A Simple Method for the Isolation and Purification of Total Lipids from Animal Tissues,J. Biol. Chem., 226, 497–509.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Leveille, G.A., and Yeh, Y.Y. (1972) Influence of Intermittent Fasting or Protein-Free Feeding on Lipid Metabolism in Young Cockerels,J. Nutr. 102, 733–740.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Lowry, O.H., Rosenbrough, N.J., Farr, A.L., and Randle, R.J. (1951) Protein Measurement with Folin Phenol Reagent,J. Biol. Chem., 193, 265–275.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Yeh, Y.Y., Streuli, V.L., and Zee, P. (1977) Relative Utilization of Fatty Acids for Synthesis of Ketone Bodies and Complex Lipids in the Liver of Developing Rats,Lipids 12, 367–374.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Zaleski, J., and Ontko, J.A. (1985) Reciprocal Effects of Energy Utilization on Palmitate Oxidation and Esterification in Hepatocytes of Fed Rats,Biochim. Biophys. Acta 836, 134–142.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Azein, M.J., and Martin, R. (1983) Effect of Genetic Obesity on the Regulation of Hepatic Fatty Acid Metabolism,Am. J. Physiol. 244, R400-R406.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Goodman, D.W. (1958) The Distribution of Fatty Acids Betweenn-Heptane and Aqueous Phosphate Buffer,J. Am. Chem. Soc. 80, 3887–3892.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Goodman, D.W. (1958) The Interaction of Human Serum Albumin with Ion-Chain Fatty Acid Anions,J. Am. Chem. Soc., 80, 3892–3898.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Ott, L. (1984) Multiple Comparisons, inAn Introduction to Statistical Methods and Data Analysis, 2nd edn., pp. 361–387, Duxbery Press, Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Schulz, H. (1994) Regulation of Fatty Acid Oxidation in Heart,J. Nutr. 124, 165–171.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Spady, D.K., Woollett, L.A., and Dietschy, J.M. (1993) Regulation of Plasma LDL-Cholesterol Levels by Dietary Cholesterol and Fatty Acids,Annu. Rev. Nutr. 13, 355–381.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Nestel, P.J., and Steinberg, D. (1963) Fate of Palmitate and of Linoleate Perfused Through the Isolated Rat Liver at High Concentrations,J. Lipid Res. 4, 461–469.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Kohour, M., Kohourova, B., and Heimberg, M. (1971) The Regulation of Hepatic Triglyceride Metabolism by Free Fatty Acids,J. Biol. Chem. 246, 5067–5074.

    Google Scholar 

  38. McGarry, J.D., and Foster, D.W. (1972) Regulation of Ketogenesis and Clinical Aspects of the Ketotic State,Metabolism, 21, 471–489.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Mayes, P.A., and Feltz, J.M. (1967) Regulation of Fat Metabolism of the Liver,Nature 215, 716–718.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Wong, S., Reardon, M., and Nestel, P.J., (1985) Reduced Triglyceride Formation from Long-Chain Polyenoic Fatty Acids in Rat Hepatocytes,Metabolism 34, 900–905.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Wong, S.H., Nestel, P.J., Trimble, R.P., Storer, G.B., Illman, R.J., and Topping D.L. (1984) The Adaptive Effect of Dietary Fish and Safflower Oil on Lipid and Lipoprotein Metabolism in Perfused Rat Liver,Biochim. Biophys. Acta 792, 103–109.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Moir, A.M., and Zammit, V.A. (1994) Effects of Insulin Treatment of Diabetic Rats on Hepatic Partitioning of Fatty Acids Between Oxidation and Esterification, Phospholipid and Acylglycerol Synthesis, and on the Fractional Rate of Secretion of Triacylglycerolin vivo, Biochem. J. 304, 177–182.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Marsh, J.B., Topping, D.L., and Nestel, P.J. (1987) Comparative Effects of Dietary Fish Oil and Carbohydrate on Plasma Lipids and Hepatic Activities of Phosphatidate Phosphohydrolase, Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase and Neutral Lipase Activities in the Rat,Biochim. Biophys. Acta 922, 239–243.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Tijburg, L.B.M., Geelen M.J.H., and van Golde, L.M.G. (1989) Regulation of the Biosynthesis of Triacylglycerol, Phosphatidylcholine and Phosphatidylethanolamine in the Liver,Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1004, 1–19.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Mangroo, D., and Gerber, G.E. (1993) Fatty Acid Uptake inEscherichia coli: Regulation by Recruitment of Fatty Acyl-CoA Synthetase to the Plasma Membrane,Biochem. Cell Biol. 71, 51–56.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Ramsammy, L.S., Haynes, B., Josepovitz, C., and Kaloyanides, G.J. (1993) Mechanism of Decreased Arachidonic Acid in the Renal Cortex of Rats with Diabetes Mellitus,Lipids 28, 433–439.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Ney, D.M., Lasekan, J.B., Spennetta, T. Grahn, M., and Shrago, E. (1989) Effect of Dietary Fat on Individual Long-Chain Fatty Acyl-CoA Eaters in Rat Liver and Skeletal Muscle,Lipids 24, 233–235.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, The Pennsylvania State University, 129 South Henderson Building, 16802, University Park, Pennsylvania

    Tonkun Pai & Yu-Yan Yeh

Authors
  1. Tonkun Pai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yu-Yan Yeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Pai, T., Yeh, YY. Stearic acid unlike shorter-chain saturated fatty acids is poorly utilized for triacylglycerol synthesis and β-oxidation in cultured rat hepatocytes. Lipids 31, 159–164 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02522615

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02522615

Keywords

Search

Navigation