Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 10, 479-486, September 1969
Copyright © 1969 by Lipid Research, Inc.

Effect of carbon tetrachloride administration on the synthesis of triglycerides and phospholipids in rat liver

Yoshitaka Shimizu

Department of Experimental Toxicology, The National Institute of Industrial Health, 2051 Kizukisumiyoshi-cho, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan

In vivo incorporation of choline-methyl-¹⁴C into liver lecithin and its biosynthetic precursors was studied in CCl₄-treated rats. Radioactivity in cytidine diphosphoryl (CDP-)choline and lecithin was reduced to one-third of control levels, whereas that of phosphorylcholine was increased to 4.7 times control levels. Incorporation of phosphorylcholine-³²P into lecithin by homogenates prepared from livers of CCl₄-treated animals was reduced, but conversion of CDP-choline-³²P to lecithin by the isolated microsomal fraction did not show any significant depression. A block in the synthesis of CDP-choline is indicated. The in vivo utilization of methionine for lecithin synthesis was not affected.

After intravenous injection of palmitic acid-1-¹⁴C, radioactivity of triglycerides from microsomal and mitochondrial fractions was markedly lower than the controls, whereas radioactivity of triglycerides in the soluble fraction was greatly increased. Radioactivity of diglycerides changed from 0.5% of total lipids in the control to 10% of total lipids in CCl₄-treated animals. Incorporation of palmitic acid into phospholipids was also suppressed.

The results demonstrate that synthesis of both phospholipids and triglycerides is inhibited in rats 4-5 hr after CCl₄ administration.

Supplementary key words reduced incorporation • choline-methyl-¹⁴C • phosphorylcholine-³²P • CDP-choline • lecithin • palmitic acid-1-¹⁴C • microsomes • diglyceride

Submitted on December 18, 1968
Accepted on April 16, 1969

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