Effects of diet and age on lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase activities in the rat

Plasma clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins appears decreased in aged humans and rats and may be due to lowered activities of the lipases responsible for lipid degradation. This study was designed to examine differential effects of age and diet on lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity of adipose and heart tissue and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) activity. LPL and HTGL activities were examined in 3- and 13-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats after they had consumed either a high-carbohydrate or a high-fat diet for 14 days. The data were analyzed for age and diet differences by two-way analysis of variance. Although animals in the two age groups consumed diets of equal caloric content, the older rats gained less weight. Rats on the high-carbohydrate diet consumed less calories and gained less weight than the fat fed rats in both age groups. Neither heart nor adipose tissue LPL activity differed when examined for age or diet. HTGL activity levels, while not affected by age, were higher in the carbohydrate fed rats (P = 0.014). Regardless of age group, fasting plasma cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the carbohydrate-fed rats than fat-fed rats (P = 0.002). Thus, the diet effect was much stronger than the age effect for HTGL and plasma cholesterol levels.     

Effects of cold exposure on heart clearing factor lipase and triglyceride utilization in the rat

The clearing factor lipase activity of the rat heart was measured in animals kept at 4 degrees C for several hours and was compared with that in control animals kept at 25 degrees C. The total activity of the enzyme in the heart increased markedly on exposure to the low temperature, whether the animals were in a fed or a fasted state. The activities of both the heparin-releasable and the heparin-nonreleasable enzyme fractions were usually raised. However, only increases in the former could be correlated satisfactorily with corresponding increases in the capacity of the heart to utilize chylomicron triglyceride fatty acids perfused through it. Cold exposure also raised the plasma clearing factor lipase activity and reduced the plasma triglyceride concentration. These changes may have been due, at least in part, to the alterations in the activity of the tissue enzyme.     

Triglyceride lipase activities in rat liver

A kinetic study of neutral and alkaline triglyceride lipase activities from different liver homogenate fractions is reported. Lipase activities are studied with triolein as substrate and are determined by quantification of the released oleic acid liberated. Heparin-releasable, microsomal and mitochondrial lipase activities are studied as a function of time, protein concentration and substrate concentration. The neutral triglyceride lipase associated with mitochondrial membranes is kinetically different from the alkaline lipase, localized on the plasma membrane, which probably contaminates microsomal and soluble fractions.     

Lipoprotein lipase in rat heart--III. Effects of sex steroid hormones on tri-, di- and monoacylglycerol lipase activities in post-heparin effluents

The in vivo administration of ethinylestradiol to female rats causes dose-dependent decreases in tri-, di- and monoacylglycerol lipase activities in post-heparin heart effluents; monoacylglycerol lipase is less sensitive to estrogen than the other two.     

Effect of diabetes on acid and neutral triacylglycerol lipase and on lipoprotein lipase activities in isolated myocardial cells from rat heart.

A neutral triacylglycerol lipase activity that is separate and distinct from lipoprotein lipase (LPL) could be measured in homogenates of myocardial cells if protamine sulphate and high concentrations of albumin were included in the assay. This neutral lipase was predominantly particulate, with the highest relative specific activity in microsomal subcellular fractions. The induction of diabetes by the administration of streptozotocin to rats resulted in a decrease in LPL activity in myocyte homogenates and in particulate subcellular fractions, but the percentage of cellular LPL activity that was released during incubation of myocytes with heparin was normal. In contrast, neutral lipase activity was increased in diabetic myocyte homogenates and microsomal fractions. Acid triacylglycerol lipase activity was not changed in diabetic myocytes. The decrease in LPL in myocytes owing to diabetes may result in the decreased functional LPL activity at the capillary endothelium of the diabetic heart.     

The effect of fasting on the utilization of chylomicron triglyceride fatty acids in relation to clearing factor lipase (lipoprotein lipase) releasable by heparin in the perfused rat heart

Hearts from rats that have been starved for 10 or 24 hr oxidize (14)C-labeled chylomicron triglyceride fatty acids perfused through them at a higher rate than do hearts from rats in the fed state. Starvation for such periods increases the total clearing factor lipase activity of the heart. It is suggested that most of this increase may be accounted for by a rise in that portion of the total enzyme activity of the tissue that is released on perfusion with heparin. In rats starved for 48 hr, removal of this portion by heparin preperfusion reduces the capacity of the heart to oxidize (14)C-labeled chylomicron triglyceride fatty acids perfused subsequently by more than 80%. It is concluded that correlations between triglyceride fatty acid utilization and clearing factor lipase activity in the heart should be sought only with that portion of the total enzyme activity which is released from the intact organ by heparin.     

Purification, stabilization, and characterization of rat hepatic triglyceride lipase

Hepatic triglyceride lipase (H-TGL) was purified to near homogeneity from heparin-containing rat liver perfusates with the following column chromatography steps: heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography, anion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, and gel filtration on Ultrogel AcA 34. A final specific activity of 45,000 μmol fatty acid/mg/h was obtained with an overall 31% recovery of catalytic activity. The heparin-Sepharose step resulted in a 20-fold purification, while the DEAE and gel filtration steps led to further purification with complete recovery of activity. An extensive survey of various detergents as potential stabilizers of H-TGL activity led to the selection of Triton N-101 for use in the column buffers of the DEAE and gel filtration steps. Relative to initial H-TGL activity upon dilution in buffer without detergent, recoveries between 90 and 100% were consistently obtained with Triton N-101-containing buffers following a 24-h incubation at 20°C. In contrast after a 24-h incubation at 20°C those control samples lacking detergent were at least 95% inactivated. The highly purified H-TGL exhibited a single major band by sodium dodecyl sulfate-electrophoresis. The use of DEAE chromatography and stabilization of H-TGL with Triton N-101 are the improvements in purification that resulted in an 8-fold enhancement in specific activity relative to the highest previous report of purification from rat liver perfusates.     

Characterization of mono-, di- and triacylglycerol lipase activities in the isolated rat heart

The lipolytic activities of heart tissue towards full and partial acylglycerols were characterized. Tissue lysosomal, acid lipase activity (pH 4.8) was inhibited by high salt, protamine sulfate, NaF, MgATP, Triton X-100, serum and the esterase-inhibitor diethylparanitrophenyl phosphate. The tissue neutral triacylglycerol lipase activity (pH 7.4) was recovered predominantly in the microsomal and soluble fractions and exhibited essentially identical properties towards activators (serum, apolipoprotein C-II) and reagents (NaCl, Triton X-100, NaF, MgATP and diethylparanitrophenyl phosphate) relative to vascular lipoprotein lipase, except for protamine sulfate which increased the serum-stimulated neutral triacylglycerol lipase activity. Triacylglycerol hydrolysis at acid pH was incomplete, whereas at neutral pH full hydrolysis occurred. Myocardial mono- and diacylglycerol lipase activities, with pH optima of 8.0 and 7.4, respectively, were recovered in the microsomal fraction. They differed immunologically from neutral lipase and lipoprotein lipase and did not bind to heparin-Sepharose 4B. They were kinetically different, partially inhibited by NaCl and differentially affected by protamine sulfate. NaF, Triton X-100 and diethylparanitrophenyl phosphate. Our data suggest that endogenous hydrolytic activity against full and partial acylglycerols is mediated by separate enzymes.     

Effects of fasting on oxidative stress in rat liver mitochondria

While moderate caloric restriction has beneficial effects on animal health state, fasting may be harmful. The present investigation was designed to test how fasting affects oxidative stress, and to find out whether the effects are opposite to those previously found in caloric restriction studies. We have focused on one of the main determinants of aging rate: the rate of mitochondrial free radical generation. Different parameters related to lipid and protein oxidative damage were also analyzed. Liver mitochondria from rats subjected to 72 h of fasting leaked more electrons per unit of O₂ consumed at complex III, than mitochondria from ad libitum fed rats. This increased leak led to a higher free radical generation under state 3 respiration using succinate as substrate. Regarding lipids, fasting altered fatty acid composition of hepatic membranes, increasing the double bond and the peroxidizability indexes. In accordance with this, we observed that hepatic membranes from the fasted animals were more sensitive to lipid peroxidation. Hepatic protein oxidative damage was also increased in fasted rats. Thus, the levels of oxidative modifications, produced either indirectly by reactive carbonyl compounds (N^epsilon- malondialdehyde-lysine), or directly through amino acid oxidation (glutamic and aminoadipic semialdehydes) were elevated due to the fasting treatment in both liver tissue and liver mitochondria. The current study shows that severe food deprivation increases oxidative stress in rat liver, at least in part, by increasing mitochondrial free radical generation during state 3 respiration and by increasing the sensitivity of hepatic membranes to oxidative damage, suggesting that fasting and caloric restriction have different effects on liver mitochondrial oxidative stress.     

Cyclic AMP activation of a triglyceride lipase in broken cell preparations of rat heart

The effect of CAM [cyclic AMP, Mg-ATP, and 3-isobutyl, 1-methylxanthine (MIX)] on triacylglycerol (TG) lipase activity in extracts from heparin-perfused rat heart was determined. TG lipase activity in homogenate, 10,000g supernatant, 105,000g supernatant, ammonium sulfate supernatant, and the eluate from heparin-Sepharose was increased between 62 and 151% when incubated with a combination of 0.3 mM cyclic AMP, 5 mM MgCl2, and 2 mM ATP. The addition of Mg-ATP + cyclic AMP caused a greater activation of TG lipase in the various fractions than did Mg-ATP + MIX or cyclic AMP + MIX. These results suggest that activation may be mediated by the classical cyclic AMP-protein kinase cascade. Control and CAM-stimulated activities were increased by heparin and inhibited by NaCl and protamine sulfate. In the absence of serum in the assay, the CAM system caused a relatively greater stimulation of lipolytic activity in each fraction compared to when serum was present in the assay. However, the absolute values were 6.1 to 16.3-fold greater with serum in the assay than without serum. In a similar manner, TG lipase activity was stimulated by CAM between 1.75 and 4.26-fold at pH 7.4, and only between 1.62 and 2.51-fold at pH 8.1. However, the absolute values at pH 8.1 were 6.77 to 31.83-fold greater than those seen at pH 7.4. These data demonstrate, for the first time, the cyclic AMP activation of a TG lipase above basal levels in cell-free fractions of rat heart. It is intriguing to speculate that the intracellular fraction of lipoprotein lipase may play a role in the hormonal regulation of cardiac TG lipolysis.     

Effects of fasting on oxidative stress in rat liver mitochondria

While moderate caloric restriction has beneficial effects on animal health state, fasting may be harmful. The present investigation was designed to test how fasting affects oxidative stress, and to find out whether the effects are opposite to those previously found in caloric restriction studies. We have focused on one of the main determinants of aging rate: the rate of mitochondrial free radical generation. Different parameters related to lipid and protein oxidative damage were also analyzed. Liver mitochondria from rats subjected to 72 h of fasting leaked more electrons per unit of O₂ consumed at complex III, than mitochondria from ad libitum fed rats. This increased leak led to a higher free radical generation under state 3 respiration using succinate as substrate. Regarding lipids, fasting altered fatty acid composition of hepatic membranes, increasing the double bond and the peroxidizability indexes. In accordance with this, we observed that hepatic membranes from the fasted animals were more sensitive to lipid peroxidation. Hepatic protein oxidative damage was also increased in fasted rats. Thus, the levels of oxidative modifications, produced either indirectly by reactive carbonyl compounds (N^epsilon- malondialdehyde-lysine), or directly through amino acid oxidation (glutamic and aminoadipic semialdehydes) were elevated due to the fasting treatment in both liver tissue and liver mitochondria. The current study shows that severe food deprivation increases oxidative stress in rat liver, at least in part, by increasing mitochondrial free radical generation during state 3 respiration and by increasing the sensitivity of hepatic membranes to oxidative damage, suggesting that fasting and caloric restriction have different effects on liver mitochondrial oxidative stress.     

Effect of colchicine on alkaline triglyceride lipase activity and triglyceride content in rat skeletal muscle

One purpose of this study was to determine if colchicine increased intracellular alkaline triglyceride (TG) lipase activity above control levels in rat skeletal muscle. The second aim was to determine the effects of colchicine treatment on the concentration of TG in skeletal muscle. The results show that colchicine was a potent inducer of alkaline TG lipase activity, increasing enzyme activity approximately twofold in slow-twitch red, fast-twitch red, and fast-twitch white muscle types. It was found that in slow-twitch red soleus and fast-twitch red vastus, the two muscle groups with the highest levels of enzyme activity, 76% or more of enzyme activity resides in the intracellular compartment. These results provide evidence that colchicine blocks the export of alkaline TG lipase from skeletal muscle cells similar to that seen in the heart. The finding that TG were reduced at a time when enzyme activity was elevated suggests that intracellular alkaline TG lipase may be playing a role in the hydrolysis of the intramuscular TG droplet.     

The influence of fasting on liver sulfhydryl groups, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase activities in the rat

Sulfhydryl groups, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) are important elements of the antioxidant defence in the organism. The efficacy of their antioxidant action is influenced by many factors. In this work, the effect of fasting on total, protein-bound and nonprotein sulfhydryl groups and on the activity of liver and serum GPx and GST in rats were determined. Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: non-fasted and 18-hour fasted. In fasted animals liver content of nonprotein sulfhydryl groups (represented predominantly by reduced glutathione; GSH) was diminished by 22% in comparison to non-fasted group, whereas total and protein-bound -SH groups were unaffected. The activity of liver and serum GPx was unchanged in food deprived rats. In these animals the activity of GST in serum was reduced by 26%. Fasting had no significant effect on the activity of GST in the liver. Our results demonstrate that in rats deprived of food for 18 hours liver and serum GPx and GST are not involved in protection against action of reactive oxygen species formed during fasting. The observed drop in the content of liver nonprotein sulfhydryl groups without concomitant rise in the activity of GPx and GST indicates that this effect may be due to augmented degradation of GSH, its potentiated efflux from hepatocytes and formation of conjugates with intermediates arising as a result of reactive oxygen species action.     

Differentiation of microsomal from lysosomal triacylglycerol lipase activities in rat liver

The F1-ATPase from Micrococcus lysodeikticus has been purified to 95% protein homogeneity in this laboratory and as all other bacterial F1S, possesses five distinct subunits with molecular weights ranging from 60 000 to 10 000 (Huberman, M. and Salton, M.R.J. (1979) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 547, 230-240). In this communication, we demonstrate the immunochemical reactivities of antibodies to native and SDS-dissociated subunits with the native and dissociated F1-ATPase and show that: (1) the antibodies generated to the native or SDS-dissociated subunits react with the native molecule; (2) all of the subunits comprising the F1 are antigenically unique as determined by crossed immunoelectrophoresis and the Ouchterlony double-diffusion techniques; (3) antibodies to the SDS-denatured individual delta- and epsilon-subunits can be used to destabilize the interaction of these specific subunits with the rest of the native F1; and (4) all subunit antibodies as well as anti-native F1 were found to inhibit ATPase activity to varying degrees, the strongest inhibition being seen with antibodies to the total F1 and anti-alpha- and anti-beta-subunit antibodies. The interaction of specific subunit antibodies may provide a new and novel way to study further and characterize the catalytic portions of F1-ATPases and in general may offer an additional method for the examination of multimeric proteins.     

Comparison of the triglyceride lipase of liver, adipose tissue, and postheparin plasma

Heparin-released triglyceride lipase from three sources, adipose tissue, liver, and postheparin plasma, was compared. Heparin-released triglyceride lipase from liver differed in several major respects from that in adipose tissue. These differences included response to inhibitors and to high density lipoprotein in the incubation media. Heparin-released triglyceride lipase from liver, when compared with that from adipose tissue, was relatively inactive against lipoprotein substrates. The triglyceride lipase from postheparin plasma exhibited properties more like those of liver. These studies raise the possibility that triglyceride lipase in postheparin plasma may be heterogeneous and that levels of the enzyme in postheparin plasma may not accurately reflect the capacity for clearance of triglyceride from the plasma.     

Influence of rapeseed oil feeding on the lipase activities of rat heart.

Feeding high doses of fat increases the lipase activity of rat heart. The heparin-releasable activity in the hearts of rapeseed oil-fed rats remains high after prolonged feeding (10 days), whereas this activity in olive oil fed rats returns to normal values in the same period. After 10 days rapeseed oil feeding the non-releasable lipase activity in the hearts is enhanced significantly, when compared to the activity measured after 3 days. The results suggest an adaptation of heart lipases to dietary fat.