Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 7, 10-16, January 1966
Copyright © 1966 by Lipid Research, Inc.

Diurnal changes in liver and plasma lipids of choline-deficient rats

Bruno Rosenfeld and Jessie M. Lang

Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Early effects of choline deficiency were studied in rats. Nonphospholipid ("neutral lipid") and phospholipid were measured in plasma and in three fractions of a liver homogenate: sediment, supernatant fraction, and "floating fat."

A single choline-deficient meal caused significant aberrations from the typical diurnal changes observed in the lipid fractions of the controls. These changes occurred in the following sequence: (a) failure of phospholipid to increase, after feeding, in the sediment fraction; (b) increase of neutral lipid, compared with controls, exclusively in the floating fraction; and (c) failure of neutral lipid to return to control levels. The rate of accumulation of neutral lipid increased during the first 4 days of deficiency.

The occurrence of NADH-cytochrome c dehydrogenase in the floating fat and the absence of succinate dehydrogenase activity point to microsomal origin of the floating fat.

Early effects of choline deficiency on plasma lipids were limited to phospholipid, and occurred later than changes in the liver. Plasma nonphospholipid levels were unchanged during the first 2 days; this does not support impaired secretion or transportation of glyceride as the cause of fatty liver in the early stages of choline deficiency.

Supplementary key words diurnal changes • lipids • liver • plasma • choline deficiency • early • floating fat • subcellular particles • NADH-cytochrome c reductase • fatty liver • rat

Submitted on June 1, 1965
Accepted on September 1, 1965

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