Some aspects of liver metabolism in mice fed high fat diets — experimental study for the intravenous use of a fat emulsion

Summary

In an attempt to investigate the metabolic alterations in the liver of mice fed high fat diets (including a carbohydrate-free high fat diet), the activities of the enzymes participating in either gluconeogenesis or lipogenesis-liver tyrosine and alanine aminotransferases and malate dehydrogenase—were assayed with a concomitant estimation of the amounts of liver triglyceride, glycogen, and protein. Two days after initiation of feeding high fat diets, increase in liver triglyceride was often observed. On the other hand, the aount of liver glycogen was depressed markedly. Minor change occurred in the activities of the aminotransferases. Liver malate dehydrogenase activity was depressed markedly by the high fat diets. This fact might be explained by an adaptive response of mice to suppress further lipogenesis of the iver. After 7 days, no further increase in the liver triglyceride content was observed, and the decrease in the liver glycogen content did not proceed either. With the additional findings of the liver enzyme changes, it is indicated that an efficient utilization of the fat might have been induced in mice by the high fat diets. These findings encourage us to apply a fat emulsion to the clinical use, as has been recommended by Wretlindet al ..