Alterations in the rate of lipogenesis in vivo in maternal liver and adipose tissue on premature weaning of lactating rats: a possible regulatory role of prolactin.

Removal of pups for 24 h from rats at peak lactation decreased 3H2O incorporation into lipid in vivo in mammary gland by 95%, whereas it was increased in liver (77%) and adipose tissue (330%). These increases were prevented by administration of prolactin. Plasma insulin increased 3-fold on weaning and this was partially prevented by prolactin.     

Bovine mammary explant versus primary cell cultures: Effect of bovine somatotropin and insulinlike growth factor-I on DNA content and protein synthesis

Summary Cellular DNA, milk protein content, and protein secretion by bovine mammary explants were compared to cultures of confluent and growing primary bovine mammary secretory cells over 4 d. Explants were obtained at slaughter from eight Holstein cows (120 ± 35 d lactation). Primary cells were grown to confluence, cryopreserved, thawed, and cultured through five passages. Explants and cells were cocultured with liver and adipose tissue in the presence of somatotropin, insulinlike growth factor-I, and somatotropin + insulinlike growth factor-I. Cellular DNA and milk proteins were assayed using fluorescent probes and flow cytometry. Media proteins were assayed by densitometer scanning of electrophoresis gel bands. DNA content of explant, confluent, and growing primary cells increased similarly through the 96 h incubation. DNA content in G₀G₁ phase was increased by: (a) insulinlike growth factor-I in explant cells; (b) somatotropin, insulinlike growth factor-I, and their combination in confluent primary cells; and (c) the combination of somatotropin and insulinlike growth factor in growing primary cells. Approximately 65% of explant and confluent primary cells were in the G₀G₁ or differentiated phase compared to 47% for the growing primary cells. Whey protein content and secretion were similar among cell types. Explant cells contained and secreted more β-casein than primary cells but secretion trends for β-casein and k-casein were similar after 48 h for both cell types. Results suggest that primary cell cultures are comparable to explant cultures when used to study mechanisms of DNA and milk protein synthesis and secretion.     

The role of adipose tissue in glucose utilization in irradiated rats

The authors studied the conversion of U-14C-glucose to total lipids, fatty acids and glyceride glycerol in the epididymal adipose tissue of rats X-irradiated with a single whole body dose of 14.4 Gy X-rays. Analyses were carried out 1, 24, 48 and 72 h after irradiation. In the adipose tissue of irradiated rats, the incorporation of 14C-glucose into all the lipid fractions was raised throughout the whole time of observation (300-600% of the control value). Most of the 14C-glucose was incorporated into the glyceride glycerol fraction.     

Heat-induced changes in the incorporation of [H3]acetate in membrane lipids

The effects of heat treatments at temperatures from 42 to 47 degrees C on the rate of incorporation of [3H]acetate into different classes of lipids have been studied in V-79 Chinese hamster cells. Thermotolerance induction and subtoxic heat treatments decreased the incorporation of [3H]acetate into phospholipids and caused the ratio [3H]cholesterol/[3H]phospholipids to increase several fold, and a positive correlation between heat dose and the ratio [3H]cholesterol/[3H]phospholipids was obtained for subtoxic hyperthermic treatments. The duration of this hyperthermic effect on the incorporation of [3H]acetate into the different lipid fractions was followed in pulse-label experiments. The highest increase of the ratio [3H]cholesterol/[3H]phospholipids was obtained during the first 24 h, but a significant elevation was also present for the 24-72 h pulse-labelled group. Thermotolerance induction was maximal 24 h after the heat treatment and then declined during the next 24 h. The increased [3H]cholesterol/[3H]phospholipid ratio observed in response to hyperthermia resembles the processes that serve to provide homeoviscous adaptation to sustain thermosensitive membrane-located functional groups, in analogy with the mechanisms responsible for thermal adaptation. However, the lack of a positive correlation between thermotolerance induction and the changes in lipid synthesis, for the whole time interval studied, remains to be further explored before any mechanistic interpretation of the data can be found.     

Regulation of protein synthesis in lactating rat mammary tissue by cell volume

The effect of changing cell volume on rat mammary protein synthesis has been examined. Cell swelling, induced by a hyposmotic challenge, markedly increased the incorporation of radiolabelled amino acids (leucine and methionine) into trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-precipitable material: reducing the osmolality by 47% increased leucine and methionine incorporation into mammary protein by 147 and 126% respectively. Conversely, cell shrinking, induced by a hyperosmotic shock, almost abolished the incorporation of radiolabelled amino acids into mammary protein: increasing the osmolality by 70% reduced leucine and methionine incorporation into mammary protein by 86 and 93% respectively. The effects of cell swelling and shrinking were fully reversible. Volume-sensitive mammary tissue protein synthesis was dependent upon the extent of the osmotic challenge. Isosmotic swelling of mammary tissue, using a buffer containing urea (160 mM), increased the incorporation of radiolabelled leucine into TCA-precipitable material by 106%. Swelling-induced mammary protein synthesis was dependent upon calcium: removing extracellular calcium together with the addition of EGTA markedly reduced volume-activated protein synthesis. Cell swelling-induced protein synthesis was inhibited by the Ca(2+) ATPase blocker thapsigargin suggesting that volume-sensitive protein synthesis is dependent upon luminal calcium.     

Glutathione utilization by lactating bovine mammary secretory tissue in vitro.

gamma-Glutamyltransferase (D-glutamyl transpeptidase, EC 2.3.2.2) activity has been shown to be located predominantly on the extracellular surface of the plasma membrane of lactating bovine mammary cells. Radioactive label from both oxidized ([14C]-gamma-glutamyl) and reduced ([35S]cysteinyl) glutathione was taken up and incorporated into acid-precipitable proteins of mammary tissue. Uptake was shown to involve the transport of free amino acids, and incorporation was shown to involve the action of gamma-=glutamyltransferase. These results indicate that lactating mammary tissue utilizes the constituent amino acids of glutathione for milk-protein synthesis.     

肝细胞生长因子刺激大鼠离体肝细胞DNA合成的剂量—与时间—效应

本工作采用３ＨＴｄＲ掺入ＤＮＡ法观察重组人肝细胞生长因子（ｒｈＨＧＦ）刺激大鼠离体肝细胞ＤＮＡ合成的剂量与时间效应。实验结果表明：ｒｈＨＧＦ是最强的促肝细胞分裂剂,在一定剂量范围内,ｒｈＨＧＦ与肝细胞ＤＮＡ合成有明显的量效关系。１ｎｇ／ｍｌｒｈＨＧＦ即可引起３ＨＴｄＲ掺入显著增加（Ｐ＜０．０１）,随剂量增加,刺激ＤＮＡ合成的效应也随之增强;１０ｎｇ／ｍｌ时３ＨＴｄＲ掺入量最大,较对照组高７倍（Ｐ＜０．００１）,剂量再增加即出现抑制效应;ｒｈＨＧＦ刺激肝细胞ＤＮＡ合成存在时间效应关系,表现为ｒｈＨＧＦ作用２４ｈ,ＤＮＡ合成量明显高于对照组（Ｐ＜０．０１）,４８ｈ作用达最高（Ｐ＜０．００１）,随后开始下降,至９６ｈ下降到相当于２４ｈ的水平。     

Phospholipid synthesis in aging potato tuber tissue

The effect of activation (“aging”) of potato tuber slices on their phospholipid metabolism was investigated. Aged slices were incubated with ¹⁴C labeled choline, ethanolamine, methionine, serine, and acetate. In all cases, the incorporation of radioactivity into the lipid fraction increased with the length of time the slices were aged. This incorporation was shown to be true synthesis and not exchange between precursors and existing phospholipids.

The increased incorporation of labeled choline into lipids was mainly due to an increase in its uptake by the tissue, the presence of actidione during aging prevented this increased uptake. The increase in the incorporation of labeled acetate into lipids resulted from the development of a fatty acid synthetase during aging. In the case of ethanolamine, both its uptake into the tissue and its incorporation into the lipid fraction increased.

The phospholipids formed from these precursors were identified by paper and thin-layer chromatography. The major compound formed from choline was lecithin, while phosphatidylethanolamine and a small amount of lecithin were formed from ethanolamine.

     

The effect of 3-methylindole on the rates of phospholipid and neutral lipid synthesis in cultured fibroblasts

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that a pneumotoxin, 3-methylindole, alters the basic metabolic pathways involved in phospholipid and neutral lipid synthesis in cultured fibroblasts. Rat skin fibroblasts were obtained from day-old pups. Confluent monolayers were preincubated for up to 24 h with a range of concentrations (0-0.76 mM) of 3-methylindole. Following these treatments, the cell lipids were labelled by incubation for 6 h with [14C]glycerol. The lipids were extracted, separated by thin layer chromatography, and the radioactivity in each fraction was determined. 3-Methylindole had no effect on the total incorporation of [14C]glycerol into lipids, but significantly altered the distribution among lipid fractions. Incubation with 3-methylindole caused a decrease in the incorporation of [14C]glycerol into phosphatidylcholine, while radioactivity accumulated in the neutral lipid fraction. The other lipid fractions responded variably. Similarily, Flow 2000 human diploid lung fibroblasts were incubated for 24 h with 3-methylindole followed by treatment with [14C]glycerol, resulting in a 74% decrease in the incorporation of [14C]glycerol into phosphatidylcholine and a 50% increase in its accumulation in neutral lipid. The results indicate that 3-methylindole inhibits the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine from diacylglycerol precursors on the endoplasmic reticulum in cultured fibroblasts. This is an important observation as it shows that 3-methylindole affects the synthesis of phospholipids required for membrane turnover in cells that are not specialized for the production of phospholipids for surfactant.     

Distribution of terminal transferases of acylglycerol synthesis in cell fractions from lactating mammary gland

Cytoplasmic lipid droplets and microlipid droplets, intracellular precursors of milk lipid globules, had little ability to incorporate radioactivity from glycerol 3-phosphate or palmitoyl-CoA into triacylglycerols. The limited incorporation of these precursors by micro- and cytoplasmic lipid droplets from rat and cow mammary gland was into phospholipids primarily. Acyltransferases catalyzing incorporation of glycerol 3-phosphate into acylglycerols were concentrated in a relatively high buoyant density class of rough microsomes. Palmitoyl-CoA-sn-1,2-diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity was distributed heterogeneously among fractions obtained by equilibrium density gradient fractionation of mammary homogenates. Observations suggest that terminal steps of acylglycerol synthesis are localized primarily in rough endoplasmic reticulum of milk secreting mammary epithelial cells. There appears to be a heterogeneous distribution of acyltransferases along the reticular network.     

In vitro DNA synthesis as indicator of mammary epithelial cell division: [14C]thymidine uptake versus flow cytometry cell cycle analysis

Summary Mammary and adipose explants from eight mid-lactation Holstein cows were co-cultured for 24 h in the presence or absence of liver explants, 1 μg/ml pituitary bovine somatotrophin, or 100 ng/ml insulinlike growth factor-I. Liver explants in the media significantly depressed DNA and protein synthesis by mammary tissue as measured by [¹⁴C]-thymidine and amino acid incorporation. As measured by flow cytometry, the concentration of DNA in the G₀G₁ and G₂M cells and the percentage of cells in the G₀G₁ population of mammary tissue was also significantly depressed by liver tissue. Changes in the percentage of cells in the S and G₂M phases were not significant. Insulinlike growth factor-I in the presence of liver explants depressed protein synthesis, thymidine incorporation, and the concentration of DNA in the G₀G₁ and G₂M cells compared to control but did not affect the percentage of cells in the G₀G₁, S, or G₂M phases. Previously it was assumed that changes in [¹⁴C]thymidine incorporation indicated that changes in cell division were occurring. Flow cytometry revealed that changes in DNA content of mammary cells as a result of liver or hormonal stimulation were not due to changes in cell division. Indications are that differences in cellular DNA content result from changes in the rate of amplification of individual genes responsible for milk protein synthesis.     

A mevalonate requirement for maintenance of fatty acid and protein synthesis during hormonally stimulated development of mammary gland in vitro

The effect of compactin on hormonally induced lipogenesis and protein synthesis was studied in vitro in explants of mammary gland from mid-pregnant rabbits. Compactin blocks mevalonate synthesis by the specific inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, and in this system, culture with 10 microM compactin for 24, 48, and 72 h inhibited incorporation of [1-14C]acetate (but not [2-14C]mevalonate) into sterol by 98, 95, and 86%, respectively. Removal of compactin prior to assay rapidly reversed this effect and was associated with increased tissue 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase activity. Fatty acid synthesis (measured by incorporation of [1-14C]acetate or [4,5-3H]leucine) and protein synthesis (measured by incorporation of [4,5-3H]leucine) were both inhibited by around 50% after culture with compactin. This inhibition was not rapidly reversed by removal of compactin prior to assay, but it was prevented by inclusion of 1 mM mevalonolactone in the culture medium. After removal of compactin and continued culture in its absence for 24 h with hormones, the normal tissue capacity for fatty acid and protein synthesis was restored, indicating no permanent cell damage. The results suggest a specific requirement for mevalonate (or derived products) for the hormonal maintenance of the increased fatty acid and protein synthesis characteristic of the development of the mammary gland.     

Lipogenic capacity and relative contribution of the different tissues and organs to lipid synthesis in male rat

The rates of 3H2O incorporation into total lipids and fatty acids were measured in vivo in the different organs and tissues of 7-week old male Wistar rats to compare the lipogenic capacity of those organs and tissues and to determine their relative contributions to body lipid synthesis. Our results were the following; (1) liver was the major site of the synthesis of total lipids and fatty acids (37 and 42%, respectively, of body synthesis); (2) white adipose tissues synthesized about 24% of the total lipids; mesenteric adipose tissue alone synthesizing 40% of the fatty acids produced in dissectable white adipose tissues; (3) skin showed low lipid synthesis but played an appreciable role in that synthesis (8% of the total) due to its large contribution to total body weight; (4) other organs (excluding liver) showed low lipid synthesis; however, that of the small intestine was 1-2% of body synthesis; (5) the rest of the carcass (mainly musculature and skeleton) contributed 25% to body lipid synthesis. The putative roles of the different tissues and organs in adipose tissue development have been discussed.     

Inhibitory effect of pH5 enzyme from non-lactating bovine mammary gland on various stages of protein synthesis in the rat liver amino acid-incorporating system

1. pH5 enzyme from non-lactating bovine mammary gland was found to contain potent inhibitors of protein synthesis in the rat liver cell-free system. These inhibitors affect (a) formation of aminoacyl-tRNA where tRNA represents transfer RNA, (b) transfer of labelled amino acids from rat liver amino[(14)C]acyl-tRNA to protein in rat liver polyribosomes, and (c) incorporation of (14)C-labelled amino acids into peptide by rat liver polyribosomes supplemented with rat liver pH5 enzyme. 2. Increasing amounts of pH5 enzyme from bovine mammary gland progressively inhibited the incorporation of labelled amino acids into protein by a complete incorporating system from rat liver. Approx. 80% inhibition was observed at a concentration of 2mg. of protein of pH5 enzyme from bovine mammary gland. The inhibitory effect of the bovine pH5 enzyme fraction could not be overcome by the addition of increasing amounts of rat liver pH5 enzyme. 3. Fractionation of bovine pH5 enzyme with ammonium sulphate into four fractions showed that all the fractions inhibited the incorporation of (14)C-labelled amino acids in the rat liver system, but to varying extents. The highest inhibition observed (90%) was exhibited by the 60%-saturated-ammonium sulphate fraction. 4. Heat treatment of bovine pH5 enzyme at various temperatures caused only a partial loss of its inhibitory effect on labelled amino acid incorporation by the rat liver system. Treatment at 105 degrees for 5min. resulted in the bovine pH5 enzyme fraction losing 30% of its inhibitory activity. 5. pH5 enzyme from bovine mammary gland strongly inhibited the charging of rat liver tRNA in the presence of its own pH5 enzymes. 6. The transfer of labelled amino acids from rat liver amino[(14)C]acyl-tRNA to protein in a system containing rat liver polyribosomes and pH5 enzyme was almost completely inhibited by bovine pH5 enzyme at a concentration of 2mg. of protein of the enzyme fraction. 7. One of the inhibitors of various stages of protein synthesis in rat liver present in bovine pH5 enzyme was identified as an active ribonuclease, and the second inhibitor present was shown to be tRNA.     

Metabolism of sialic acid in regenerating rat liver.

In regenerating rat liver slices 24 h after partial hepatectomy, the incorporation of [1-14C]glucosamine into 'free sialic acid' (N-acetylneuraminic acid + CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid) decreased to below 50% of the control values and the incorporation into protein-bound sialic acid decreased to the same extent. The incorporation of [14C]glucosamine into 'free sialic acid' decreased during the period from 6 to 47 h after hepatectomy, showing a minimum at 12 h, and recovered to the control value by 96 h. At 12 h, the activities of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase (UDP-2-acetoamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose 2-epimerase, EC 5.1.3.14) and N-acyl-D-mannosamine kinase (ATP: 2-acylamino-2-deoxy-D-mannose 6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.60) in the liver were significantly decreased. The amount of protein-bound sialic acid in the liver was not changed after partial hepatectomy, but the amount in plasma was changed, with a similar pattern to that of the incorporation of [14C]glucosamine into slice 'free sialic acid'. These results indicate that the synthesis of sialic acid in the liver much decreases in the early stage of regeneration and that this may be correlated with the decreased synthesis of plasma sialoglycoproteins.     

The utilization of ketone bodies by the interscapular brown adipose tissue of the rat

The activities of 3-oxo acid-CoA transferase (EC 2.8.3.5, 13-15 micromol/min per g) and acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase (EC 2.3.1.9, 18-21 micromol/min per g) in interscapular brown adipose tissue of the rat are comparable to the activities reported for heart and kidney. The incorporation of D-3-hydroxy[3-14C]butyrate into lipid in vivo was about 30-fold higher in interscapular brown adipose tissue than in white adipose tissue of virgin rats. In lactating rats, the mammary gland was the major site of ketone body incorporation into lipid and incorporation of D-3-hydroxy-[3-14C]butyrate into lipid in brown adipose tissue was lower than in virgin rats. After an oral load of medium chain triacylglycerol, which inhibits lipogenesis in lactating mammary gland, the incorporation of ketone bodies into lipid was decreased in mammary gland but increased in brown adipose tissue. The rate of oxidation of D-3-hydroxy[3-14C]butyrate by brown adipose tissue slices in vitro was higher than the rate of incorporation into lipid.     

Effect of acute hypobaric hypoxia on 32-P incorporation into phospholipids of alveolar surfactant, lung, liver and plasma of rat.

Exposure of adult rats to hypobaric hypoxia caused hypolipidemia, hypotriglyceridemia and hypophospholipidemia. Hypobaric hypoxia produced an increase in liver triglyceride and cholesterol levels and a decrease in lung triglyceride, total phospholipid and phosphatidyl choline. The proportion of phosphatidyl choline in the pulmonary surfactant fraction I phospholipids (responsible for reducing surface tension) decreased (55.2% as compared to 80.4% in control animals). Incorporation of 32-P into liver phosphatidyl ethanolamine was significantly increased, incorporation into lung phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine was increased whereas a decreased incorporation into plasma phosphatidyl choline was observed. The data suggest an enhanced lipid synthesis in liver with a probable impairment of mobilization into plasma.     

Bovine placental lactogen stimulates DNA synthesis of bovine mammary tissue maintained in athymic nude mice

Mammary tissue from five midpregnant heifers was transplanted subcutaneously into ovariectomized athymic mice (eight pieces/mouse). After a recovery period of 19 days, mice were injected daily for 5 days with buffer (50 mM NH4HCO3, pH 7.8) as control, 17 beta-estradiol (1 micrograms) plus progesterone (1 mg). Concurrently with the buffer or steroid hormone injections, mice were injected with bovine placental lactogen (0, 5, or 25 micrograms), bovine prolactin (0, 3.4, or 17.2 micrograms), or bovine growth hormone (0, 3.4, or 17.2 micrograms). All mice were injected with 2-bromo-alpha-ergocryptine (0.1 mg/day). Transplanted bovine mammary tissue was incubated for 4 hr in minimum essential medium containing 1 mu Ci/ml [3H]TdR. Two pieces were processed for autoradiography and the others were used for DNA assay and total [3H]TdR uptake. Bovine placental lactogen, prolactin, and growth hormone each increased [3H]TdR incorporation into DNA in a linear, dose-response manner. Addition of ovarian steroids to bPL resulted in a significant increase over protein hormones alone. Autoradiographic analysis indicated that the observed differences in DNA synthesis were due to hormonal effects on epithelial, rather than stromal, DNA synthesis. These results provide the first evidence of a mammogenic role of bovine placental lactogen.     

Casein turnover in rabbit mammary explants in organ culture

1. Explants of mammary gland from mid-pregnant rabbits were cultured in medium 199 containing insulin, prolactin and cortisol, and specific anti-casein immunoglobulin G was used to measure the amount, rate of synthesis and rate of degradation of casein in the explants in the presence of hormones and after removal of hormones from previously stimulated tissue. 2. The amount of casein in particle-free supernatants prepared from mammary explants was measured by ;rocket' immunoelectrophoresis. 3. The rate of incorporation of l-[4,5-(3)H]leucine into casein was measured after isolation of the casein by immunoadsorbent chromatography and polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in the presence of urea and sodium dodecyl sulphate. 4. Casein accumulates in mammary explants in the presence of insulin, prolactin and cortisol, but not in the absence of hormones. Removal of hormones after 24h in culture results in a decrease in the rate of accumulation of casein in the explants. 5. Casein-synthetic rate increases in mammary explants in the presence of insulin, prolactin and cortisol, but not in the absence of hormones. Removal of hormones after 24h in culture results in continued casein synthesis at approx. 30% of the rate in the presence of hormones. The synthetic rate does not decrease to values observed in explants cultured throughout in the absence of hormones. 6. Casein is not degraded in mammary explants during a phase of rapid casein accumulation (36-72h) in the presence of hormones. Furthermore casein is not degraded when hormones are removed from the tissue after between 36 and 72h in culture. 7. Casein is glycosylated in mammary explants; the extent of glycosylation parallels the rate of synthesis. The glycosylated protein is rapidly secreted from the tissue. 8. The results are consistent with the notion that after hormonal stimulation mammary explants from mid-pregnant rabbits synthesize, glycosylate and rapidly secrete casein. Removal of hormones decreases the synthetic rate of casein, but does not cause the accumulation of a pool of degradable casein in the lobuloalveolar cells.     

Incorporation of 32P into phospholipids in vivo during compensatory renal growth

Incorporation of 32P into phospholipids, RNA and DNA was studied in adult male C57BL/GoZgb mice. Left nephrectomy was performed under diethyl ether anesthesia, and the remaining right kidney was excised 10 min to 28 days later. Sham-operated animals were used as controls. 2 h before killing, animals were injected intraperitoneally with 37 kBq (1 microCi) 32P (as sodium orthophosphate) per g of body weight. In the right kidney, incorporation of 32P into total phospholipids, and five phospholipid fractions (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, diphosphatidylglycerol and sphingomyelin) was increased by 25-35% between 20 and 72 h after uninephrectomy. The incorporation of 32P into RNA showed a similar pattern. However, incorporation of 32P into phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidic acid was already increased 20 min after uninephrectomy, reached a peak about 110-120% above control values 4 h after uninephrectomy, and then slowly returned to the control value at about 84-96 h. These results indicate that an early alteration in phospholipid metabolism, particularly of inositol lipids, may play a role in initiation of compensatory renal growth.