Hepatic fatty acid-supported respiration in rats fed an energy-dense diet.
The energy balance and hepatic fatty acid-supported respiration were studied in rats fed a control or an energy-dense diet. In addition, state 3 and 4 respiratory rates as well as ketone body production with palmitoylcarnitine as substrate were determined in isolated mitochondria. Metabolizable energy intake and energy expenditure increased in rats fed an energy-dense diet, but the gain in body weight and lipid content remained unchanged. No variation occurred in the mitochondrial palmitoylcarnitine utilization rate and ketone body production, but a significant increase in the mitochondrial content of ketone bodies and the serum levels was found in rats fed an energy-dense diet. Furthermore, we have shown a significant increase in fatty acid-stimulated respiration in hepatocytes from rats fed an energy-dense diet. The enhanced hepatic fatty acid utilization as an energy substrate found in rats fed an energy-dense diet may contribute to reduce the availability of lipids for storage, thus counteracting the development of obesity.
Liverini
G
G
Department of General and Environmental Physiology, University of Naples, Italy. susiossa@ds.unina.it
Iossa
S
S
Mollica
M P
MP
Lionetti
L
L
Barletta
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D019069:Cell Respiration; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids