Characterization of the binding of human low-density lipoprotein to primary monolayer cultures of rat hepatocytes

The binding of human low-density lipoprotein labelled with 125I to rat hepatocytes in monolayer culture was measured at 4 degrees C. Evidence for two different specific binding sites was obtained. Binding to Site 1 was characterized by: being displaced by dextran sulphate or heparin; being dependent on Ca2+; having a Kd value of about 15 micrograms of protein/ml; not being significantly displaced by a 20-fold excess unlabelled low-density lipoprotein that had been reductively methylated; being displaced by approx. 40% by a 20-fold protein excess of unlabelled human high-density lipoprotein, HDL3, and increasing with time in culture when newborn-calf serum was present in the medium. The binding to Site 2 had the following properties: it was not displaced by sulphated polysaccharides; it was only partially Ca2+-dependent, and the presence of EDTA increased the Kd value; the apparent Kd value in the presence of Ca2+ was approx. 30 micrograms of protein/ml, which was significantly higher than for Site 1; it was displaced by approx. 30% with a 20-fold excess of low-density lipoprotein that had been methylated; it was displaced by unlabelled HDL3 to a similar extent to Site 1; it did not increase significantly with time in culture. The characteristics of binding to Sites 1 and 2 are discussed in relation to the receptors for low-density lipoproteins that have previously been described in various cell types. It is proposed that the experimental system described in this paper is suitable for studying the regulation of the binding of low-density lipoproteins to hepatocytes.

Effects of insulin, glucagon, dexamethasone, cyclic GMP and spermine on the stability of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity in cultured rat hepatocytes

Hepatocytes were preincubated with 10mM-glucagon and 100 microM-corticosterone to increase phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity. Addition of 10 nM-glucagon or 100 microM-8-bromo cyclic GMP to a second incubation mixture that contained cycloheximide increased the half-life of the phosphohydrolase activity. Dexamethasone (100 nM) had no significant effect, but insulin (500 pM) or spermine (1 mM) decreased the half-life. None of these compounds altered the general rate of degradation of proteins labelled with [3H]leucine. There appears to be a specific control of the half-life of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity, which could contribute to its long-term regulation in the liver.

Spermine antagonises the effects of dexamethasone, glucagon and cyclic AMP in increasing the activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in isolated rat hepatocytes

Rat hepatocytes were incubated in monolayer culture, under serum free conditions, for 8 h. Glucagon (10 nM), 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (100 microM) and dexamethasone (100 nM) increased the activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase by approx. 2-, 3.6- and 3.3-fold, respectively. Spermine alone had no significant effect. Spermine (2.5 mM) almost completely inhibited the glucagon induced increase in phosphohydrolase activity. It only partially inhibited the dexamethasone and cyclic AMP mediated inductions. Spermidine had no significant effect in this respect. The results are discussed in relation to the known effects of polyamines on glycerolipid synthesis, in particular, and on intermediary metabolism.

Effects of an antitumoural rhodium complex on thioacetamide-induced liver tumor in rats. Changes in the activities of ornithine decarboxylase, tyrosine aminotransferase and of enzymes involved in fatty acid and glycerolipid synthesis

Rats were injected daily for 8 weeks with 50 mg of thioacetamide per kg to produce liver tumours. Some of these rats were given three doses of 50 mg of an antitumoural Rh(III) complex/kg at 14, 9 and 5 days before the end of the thioacetamide treatment. Thioacetamide decreased the rate of weight gain of the rats and the Rh(III) complex partly restored it. The activities of ATP citrate lyase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase in the livers were decreased by thioacetamide treatment and the Rh(III) complex partly reversed this effect. By contrast the activity of malic enzyme was increased by both thioacetamide and the Rh(III) complex and this effect probably relates to NADPH production for detoxification rather than for lipogenesis. Treatment with thioacetamide increased the rate of synthesis of di- and triacylglycerols from glycerol phosphate by liver homogenates, the activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and the incorporation of [3H]glycerol into liver triacylglycerol in vivo. The Rh(III) complex did not produce a significant reversal of these effects of thioacetamide on glycerolipid synthesis. The total uptake of intraportally injected [3H]glycerol by the livers of thioacetamide treated rats was decreased and this was associated with a lowered activity of glycerol kinase. Thioacetamide increased the activity of hepatic ornithine decarboxylase by about 40-fold, but the Rh(III) complex did not reverse this effect. However, the decrease in tyrosine aminotransferase activity that was produced by thioacetamide was partly reversed by the Rh(III) complex. These results are discussed in relation to the tumour-promoting effects of thioacetamide and the antitumoural action of the Rh(III) complex.

Insulin antagonises the growth hormone-mediated increase in the activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in isolated rat hepatocytes

Rat hepatocytes were incubated in monolayer culture, under serum-free conditions for 8 h. Rat growth hormone (up to 100 nM) increased the activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase by up to 47%. Insulin (500 pM or 35 nM), cycloheximide or actinomycin D reversed this effect. The ability of growth hormone to modify the effects of insulin is discussed in relation to the control of the phosphohydrolase activity and glycerolipid synthesis.

Relationship between the displacement of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from the membrane-associated compartment by chlorpromazine and the inhibition of the synthesis of triacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine in rat hepatocytes

Glycerolipid synthesis was studied in isolated hepatocytes by using 177 microM [14C]oleate and 1 mM [3H]glycerol. Chlorpromazine (25-400 microM) inhibited the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine and triacylglycerol. This was accompanied by an average increase of 12-fold in the accumulation of the labelled precursors in phosphatidate at 200 microM chlorpromazine and a decrease in the conversion of phosphatidate to diacylglycerol of 76%. These results indicate that part of the inhibition of the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine and triacylglycerol occurs at the level of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase. The relative rate of triacylglycerol synthesis at different concentrations of chlorpromazine was approximately proportional to the rate of conversion of phosphatidate to diacylglycerol. Phosphatidylcholine synthesis increased at higher rates of conversion of phosphatidate to diacylglycerol, but it was relatively independent of the latter rate when this was inhibited by more than about 30% with chlorpromazine. The addition of oleate to the hepatocytes caused a translocation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from the cytosol to the membrane-associated compartment. Chlorpromazine had the opposite effect and displaced the phosphohydrolase from the membranes in the presence or absence of oleate. There was a highly significant correlation between the activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase that was associated with the membranes of the hepatocytes and the calculated conversion of [3H]phosphatidate to diacylglycerol. Chlorpromazine also antagonized the association of the phosphohydrolase with microsomal membranes when cell-free preparations were incubated with combinations of oleate and spermine. Furthermore, it inhibited the transfer of the soluble phosphohydrolase to microsomal membranes that were labelled with [14C]phosphatidate and thereby decreased diacylglycerol production. It is concluded that part of the action of chlorpromazine in inhibiting the synthesis of triacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine occurs because it prevents the interaction of the soluble phosphatidate phosphohydrolase with the membranes on which glycerolipid synthesis occurs. This in turn prevents the conversion of phosphatidate to diacylglycerol.

Effects of dexamethasone and insulin on the synthesis of triacylglycerols and phosphatidylcholine and the secretion of very-low-density lipoproteins and lysophosphatidylcholine by monolayer cultures of rat hepatocytes

Rat hepatocytes in monolayer culture were preincubated for 19 h with 1 microM-dexamethasone, and the incubation was continued for a further 23 h with [14C]oleate, [3H]glycerol and 1 microM-dexamethasone. Dexamethasone increased the secretion of triacylglycerol into the medium in particles that had the properties of very-low-density lipoproteins. The increased secretion was matched by a decrease in the triacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine that remained in the hepatocytes. Preincubating the hepatocytes for the total 42 h period with 36 nM-insulin decreased the amount of triacylglycerol in the medium and in the cells after the final incubation for 23 h with radioactive substrates. However, insulin had no significant effect on the triacylglycerol content of the cell and medium when it was present only in the final 23 h incubation. Insulin antagonized the effects of dexamethasone in stimulating the secretion of triacylglycerol from the hepatocytes, especially when it was present throughout the total 42 h period. The labelling of lysophosphatidylcholine in the medium when hepatocytes were incubated with [14C]oleate and [3H]glycerol was greater than that of phosphatidylcholine. The appearance of this lipid in the medium, unlike that of triacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine, was not stimulated by dexamethasone, or inhibited by colchicine. However, the presence of lysophosphatidylcholine in the medium was decreased when the hepatocytes were incubated with both dexamethasone and insulin. These findings are discussed in relation to the control of the synthesis of glycerolipids and the secretion of very-low-density lipoproteins and lysophosphatidylcholine by the liver, particularly in relation to the interactions of glucocorticoids and insulin.

Regulation of the translocation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase between the cytosol and the endoplasmic reticulum of rat liver. Effects of unsaturated fatty acids, spermine, nucleotides, albumin and chlorpromazine

The translocation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase between the cytosol and the microsomal membranes was investigated by using a cell-free system from rat liver. Linoleate, alpha-linolenate, arachidonate and eicosapentenoate promoted the translocation to membranes with a similar potency to that of oleate. The phosphohydrolase that associated with the membranes in the presence of [14C]oleate or 1mM-spermine coincided on Percoll gradients with the peak of rotenone-insensitive NADH-cytochrome c reductase, and in the former case with a peak of 14C. Microsomal membranes were enriched with the phosphohydrolase activity by incubation with [14C]oleate or spermine and then incubated with albumin. The phosphohydrolase activity was displaced from the membranes by albumin, and this paralleled the removal of [14C]oleate from the membranes when this acid was present. Chlorpromazine also displaced phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from the membranes, but it did not displace [14C]oleate. The effects of spermine in promoting the association of the phosphohydrolase with the membranes was inhibited by ATP, GTP, CTP, AMP and phosphate. ATP at the same concentration did not antagonize the translocating effect of oleate. From these results and previous work, it was concluded that the binding of long-chain fatty acids and their CoA esters to the endoplasmic reticulum acts as a signal for more phosphatidate phosphohydrolase to associate with these membranes and thereby to enhance the synthesis of glycerolipids, especially triacylglycerol. The translocation of the phosphohydrolase probably depends on the increased negative charge on the membranes, which could also be donated by the accumulation of phosphatidate. Chlorpromazine could oppose the translocation by donating a positive charge to the membranes.

Stimulation of specific GTPase activity by vasopressin in isolated membranes from cultured rat hepatocytes

Membranes were isolated by isotonic homogenization and differential centrifugation from rat hepatocytes cultured overnight. The specific GTPase activity of the membranes was 1-1.3 pmol gamma-labelled GTP hydrolysed/mg protein per min in the presence of 1.2 mM Na+, 2 mM EGTA, 1 mM ATP and 0.2 mM 5-adenylyl imidodiphosphate. Under these conditions there was a stimulation of specific GTPase activity of no more than 20% by 11-115 nM vasopressin. No effect of vasopressin was seen in the presence of 1.7 microM free Ca2+ or 100 mM Na+. The findings indicate that vasopressin is able to influence GTPase activity as well as accelerate phosphoinositide breakdown in rat hepatocytes.

Interactions of insulin, glucagon and dexamethasone in controlling the activity of glycerol phosphate acyltransferase and the activity and subcellular distribution of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in cultured rat hepatocytes

Rat hepatocytes were incubated in monolayer culture for 8 h. Glucagon (10nM) increased the total phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity by 1.7-fold. This effect was abolished by adding cycloheximide, actinomycin D or 500 pM-insulin to the incubations. The glucagon-induced increase was synergistic with that produced by an optimum concentration of 100 nM-dexamethasone. Theophylline (1mM) potentiated the effect of glucagon, but it did not affect the dexamethasone-induced increase in the phosphohydrolase activity. The relative proportion of the phosphohydrolase activity associated with membranes was decreased by glucagon when 0.15 mM-oleate was added 15 min before the end of the incubations to translocate the phosphohydrolase from the cytosol. This glucagon effect was not seen at 0.5 mM-oleate. Since glucagon also increased the total phosphohydrolase activity, the membrane-associated activity was maintained at 0.15 mM-oleate and was increased at 0.5 mM-oleate. This activity at both oleate concentrations was also increased in incubations that contained dexamethasone, particularly in the presence of glucagon. Insulin increased the relative proportion of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase that was associated with membranes at 0.15 mM-oleate, but not at 0.5 mM-oleate. It also decreased the absolute phosphohydrolase activity on the membranes at both oleate concentrations in incubations that also contained glucagon and dexamethasone. None of the hormonal combinations significantly altered the total glycerol phosphate acyltransferase activity. However, glucagon significantly increased the microsomal activities, and insulin had the opposite effect. Glucagon also decreased the mitochondrial acyltransferase activity. There was a highly significant correlation between the total phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity and the synthesis of neutral lipids from glycerol phosphate and 0.5 mM-oleate in homogenates of cells from all of the hormonal combinations. Phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity is increased in the long term by glucocorticoids and also by glucagon through cyclic AMP. In the short term, glucagon increases the concentration of fatty acid required to translocate the cytosolic reservoir of activity to the membranes on which phosphatidate is synthesized. Insulin opposes the combined actions of glucagon and glucocorticoids. The long-term events explain the large increases in the phosphohydrolase activity that occur in vivo in a variety of stress conditions. The expression of this activity depends on increases in the net availability of fatty acids and their CoA esters in the liver.

Possible relationships between changes in body weight set-point and stress metabolism after treating rats chronically with D-fenfluramine. Effects of feeding rats acutely with fructose on the metabolism of corticosterone, glucose, fatty acids, glycerol and triacylglycerol

Rats were maintained on a corn oil diet and treated with D-fenfluramine at doses of 2.5 mg/kg twice a day for 11 days or with 10 mg or 25 mg/kg once a day for 12 days. The lower dose of D-fenfluramine produced no marked changes in body weight and after 11 days of treatment the weights of the rats on average were only 2% lower than the controls. The food intake of these rats was only decreased on the first day. The two higher doses of D-fenfluramine decreased the food consumption for about 3 days but thereafter it was similar to that of the control rats. The body weight of these rats fell on the first day, but after about four days the gain in body weight paralleled rather than approached that of the control rats. Increasing the dose of D-fenfluramine progressively decreased the relative size of the epididymal fat pad. At the end of the treatment period the rats were fed acutely with fructose to increase the circulating concentrations of corticosterone and to stimulate triacylglycerol synthesis. All three doses of D-fenfluramine decreased the concentration of circulating triacylglycerol after fructose feeding. The 10 mg/kg dose also decreased the basal concentration of triacylglycerol. The two higher doses of fenfluramine decreased the rises in the circulating concentrations of corticosterone, glycerol and fatty acids that are produced by fructose feeding. The basal concentrations of these compounds in the absence of fructose feeding were not significantly affected by the 10 mg/kg dose of D-fenfluramine. The possible relationship between the effect of chronic treatment with D-fenfluramine in decreasing a metabolic stress response and lipolysis is discussed relative to its hypotriglyceridaemic action and its effect on body weight-set point. The results demonstrate that D-fenfluramine produced persistent changes in metabolism at a time when the treated rats were growing at the same rate as the control rats and when they were eating similar quantities of food.

Effects of cyclic AMP, glucocorticoids and insulin on the activities of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, tyrosine aminotransferase and glycerol kinase in isolated rat hepatocytes in relation to the control of triacylglycerol synthesis and gluconeogenesis

Rat hepatocytes were incubated in monolayer culture in modified Leibovitz L-15 medium containing either 10% (v/v) newborn-calf serum or 0.2% (w/v) fatty-acid-poor bovine serum albumin. The addition of 100 nM-dexamethasone increased the activities of both phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and tyrosine aminotransferase by about 3.5-fold after 8h, and these activities continued to rise until at least 24h. Incubating the hepatocytes in the albumin-containing medium with 10 microM- or 100 microM-8-(4-chlorophenylthio)adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate increased the activities of the phosphohydrolase and aminotransferase by 2.6- and 3.4-fold respectively after 8h. These increases were blocked by actinomycin D. The increases in the activities that were produced by the cyclic AMP analogue and dexamethasone were independent and approximately additive. Insulin when added alone did not alter the phosphohydrolase activity, but it increased the aminotransferase activity by 34%. The dexamethasone-induced increase in the phosphohydrolase activity was completely blocked by 7-144 microM-insulin, whereas that of the aminotransferase was only partly suppressed. Insulin had no significant Effects on the increases in the activities of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and tyrosine aminotransferase that were produced by the cyclic AMP analogue, but this may be because the analogue is fairly resistant to degradation by the phosphodiesterase. The activity of glycerol kinase was not significantly changed by incubating the hepatocytes with insulin, dexamethasone and the cyclic AMP analogue alone or in combinations. It is proposed that high concentrations of cyclic AMP and glucocorticoids increase the total activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in the liver and provide it with an increased capacity for synthesizing triacylglycerols and very-low-density lipoproteins, which is expressed when the availability of fatty acids is high. There appears to be a co-ordinated hormonal control of triacyglycerol synthesis and gluconeogenesis in diabetes and in metabolic stress to enable the liver to supply other organs with energy.

Spermine promotes the translocation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from the cytosol to the microsomal fraction of rat liver and it enhances the effects of oleate in this respect

Spermine (0.5-2 mM) promoted the translocation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from the soluble to the microsomal fraction in a cell-free system derived from rat liver. By contrast, spermidine (1 mM) and putrescine (1 mM) had no significant effect on the translocation when added alone. Spermine, and to a lesser extent, spermidine, enhanced the translocating action of oleate and increased its effectiveness in transferring the phosphohydrolase from the soluble to the microsomal fraction. It is proposed that the phosphohydrolase becomes metabolically active when it combines with membranes and that polyamines might help to regulate this interaction. This could facilitate the action of fatty acids and enable cells to increase their capacity for triacylglycerol synthesis to match an increased availability of fatty acids.

Long-chain fatty acids and their acyl-CoA esters cause the translocation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from the cytosolic to the microsomal fraction of rat liver

A translocation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from the cytosolic to the microsomal fraction was promoted in cell-free extracts of rat liver by oleate and palmitate and their CoA esters. Oleate was more potent in this respect than palmitate and the CoA esters were more effective than the unesterified acids. Octanoate, octanoyl-CoA and CoA did not cause the translocation. It is proposed that the interaction of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase with the membranes that synthesize glycerolipids causes it to become metabolically active. This enables the liver to increase its capacity for triacylglycerol synthesis in response to an increased supply of fatty acids.

Can phosphorylation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase by a cyclic AMP-dependent mechanism regulate its activity and subcellular distribution and control hepatic glycerolipid synthesis?

Incubating the particle-free supernatant of rat liver with alkaline phosphatase decreased the activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase by 21-29%. When the particle-free supernatant was incubated with various combinations of Mg2+, ATP, cyclic AMP and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase this failed to alter significantly phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity under the conditions employed. The incubation of hepatocytes in monolayer culture with 0.5 mM-8-(4-chlorophenylthio)adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate increased the total activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase as measured in vitro. This also decreased the proportion of the phosphohydrolase that was associated with the membrane fraction of the cells and increased that in the cytosolic fraction. Adding 1 mM-oleate to the hepatocytes promoted the translocation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from the cytosol to the membrane-associated compartment. Oleate overcame the effect of the cyclic AMP analogue in favouring the cytosolic distribution of the phosphohydrolase. These results are discussed in relation to the interaction of hormonal balance and substrate supply in controlling the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine and triacylglycerol in the liver in stress and in diabetes. It is proposed that the cytosolic phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity represents a reservoir of potential activity that becomes expressed when the enzyme translocates to the membranes on which the synthesis of glycerolipids occurs.

Partial purification and characterization of the soluble phosphatidate phosphohydrolase of rat liver

A method is described by which the Mg2+-stimulated phosphatidate phosphohydrolase can be purified from the soluble fraction of liver from ethanol-treated rats. The increase in specific activity was about 416-fold. This involved purification by adsorption on calcium phosphate, chromatography on DE-52 DEAE-cellulose, separation on Ultrogel AcA-34 and chromatography on CM-Sepharose 6B. The effects of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidate and Mg2+, Mn2+ and Zn2+ on the activity are described. Inhibitor studies indicate that the phosphohydrolase contains functional thiol groups and arginine residues.

Effects of hypophysectomy and metyrapone on the catecholamine content and volumes of adrenaline- and noradrenaline-storing cells in the rat adrenal medulla

Using morphometric analysis and high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection of catecholamines the volumes of adrenaline-storing (A) and noradrenaline-storing (NA) cells and the adrenaline and noradrenaline contents of adrenal glands of normal and age-matched hypophysectomized rats were determined and compared. Some hypophysectomized rats were also administered 150 mg metyrapone/kg daily for a 4-week period. Hypophysectomy resulted in an increase in noradrenaline storage in adrenal glands. This was more marked in hypophysectomized animals not treated with metyrapone even though the combination of metyrapone and hypophysectomy resulted in a reduction of blood corticosterone concentration to only approximately 6% normal. There was no evidence of a change in proportion of A and NA cells in the adrenal medulla of hypophysectomized rats or hypophysectomized animals treated with metyrapone and it is concluded that the changes in amine concentrations and proportions observed reflect an increase in the storage of noradrenaline in A cells as a consequence of less efficient methylation of noradrenaline after hypophysectomy. The findings also showed that the left adrenal gland and medulla was usually slightly larger and had a greater catecholamine content and slightly higher proportion of NA cells than the right adrenal gland. During the period of the experiment (animals aged 6-15 weeks) there was an increase in the concentration of both adrenaline and noradrenaline in the normal adrenal glands. In normal Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 140 and 400 g the adrenal medulla accounted for some 5% of adrenal volume; this increased to 13% after hypophysectomy; A and NA cells together accounted for 50-60% of the volume of adrenal medulla.

Oleic acid promotes the activation and translocation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from the cytosol to particulate fractions of isolated rat hepatocytes

The incubation of hepatocytes with 1-4mM-oleate increased the total activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase that was measured in the presence of Mg2+ to about 2-fold. This was accompanied by an increase in the proportion of the enzyme that was isolated with the particulate fractions. Conversely, the addition of up to 4mM-oleate decreased the recovery of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in the cytosolic fraction from about 70% to 3% when hepatocytes were lysed with digitonin. Most of the increase in the membrane-associated phosphohydrolase activity was isolated after cell fractionation in the microsomal fraction that was enriched with the endoplasmic-reticulum marker arylesterase. It is proposed that the translocation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase facilitates the increased synthesis of triacylglycerols in the liver when it is presented with an increased supply of fatty acids.

Effects of vasopressin and corticosterone on fatty acid metabolism and on the activities of glycerol phosphate acyltransferase and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in rat hepatocytes

The effects of vasopressin on the short-term control of fatty acid metabolism were studied in isolated rat hepatocytes. Vasopressin increased the oxidation of oleate to CO2 and decreased the formation of ketones in hepatocytes from Wistar rats, but not from Brattleboro rats. Incubation with vasopressin for 30 min increased the conversion of oleate into triacylglycerol by 17% and 32% in hepatocytes from Wistar and Brattleboro rats respectively. The corresponding increases for the phospholipid fraction were 19% and 42%. When Wistar-rat hepatocytes were incubated with corticosterone for 6 h there was a 19% increase in triacylglycerol synthesis, and a 52% increase if vasopressin was added 30 min before the end of the incubation. Glycerol phosphate acyltransferase activity was not significantly increased by vasopressin. Incubation for 5-60 min with vasopressin increased the Vmax. of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase by 48% and 32% respectively in hepatocytes from Wistar and Brattleboro rats. These increases were antagonized if EGTA was added to the medium used for incubating the hepatocytes. The replacement of vasopressin by 5 microM-ionophore A23187 produced a significant increase of 13% in the phosphohydrolase activity. It is therefore likely that the effects of vasopressin on the phosphohydrolase are mediated by Ca2+. These results are discussed in relation to the possible function of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in controlling the turnover of phosphoinositides, the synthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and triacylglycerol, and the secretion of very-low-density lipoproteins.

Fatty acids reverse the cyclic AMP inhibition of triacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine synthesis in rat hepatocytes

The influence of cyclic AMP analogues and fatty acids on glycerolipid biosynthesis in monolayer cultures of rat hepatocytes was investigated. Chlorophenylthio-cyclic AMP and adenosine 3':5'-cyclic phosphorothioate inhibited the rate of triacylglycerol synthesis from [1(3)-3H]glycerol, and phosphatidylcholine synthesis from [Me-3H]-choline. Supplementation of the hepatocytes with palmitate (1 mM) reversed chlorophenylthio-cyclic AMP inhibition of triacylglycerol synthesis. Similarly, cyclic AMP analogue-inhibition of phosphatidylcholine synthesis was abolished when the cells were simultaneously incubated with oleate (3 mM). Reactivation of phosphatidylcholine synthesis in chlorophenylthio-cyclic AMP-supplemented cells with oleate was accompanied by conversion of CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase into the membrane-bound form, since these cells released the enzyme more slowly after treatment with digitonin. The opposing actions of cyclic AMP and fatty acids are discussed in relation to the regulation of glycerolipid biosynthesis during starvation, diabetes and stress.

Fatty acids promote translocation of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase to the endoplasmic reticulum and stimulate rat hepatic phosphatidylcholine synthesis

The mechanism by which fatty acids stimulate the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine has been studied in cultured rat hepatocytes. Long chain fatty acids (1 mM) stimulated approximately 1.9-fold [methyl-3H] choline incorporation from phosphocholine into phosphatidylcholine by isolated hepatocytes. Oleate and palmitate (4 mM) enhanced phosphatidylcholine production by 3- and 2.2-fold, respectively. Stimulation of phosphatidylcholine synthesis by oleate was evident within 30 min after addition of the fatty acid to the hepatocyte medium. The effect could be correlated with a doubling of the microsomal CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity. Additional evidence for a direct effect by fatty acids and their CoA derivatives on the cytidylyltransferase was obtained in vitro. Arachidonate, oleate and palmitate (0.1 mM) stimulated rat liver cytosolic cytidylyltransferase activity 4.1-, 3.5- and 3.2-fold, respectively. Activation by oleate was accompanied by a 3.6-fold reduction in the apparent Km of the cytidylyltransferase for CTP and aggregation of the enzyme to high molecular weight species. Acceleration of the cytidylyltransferase reaction by fatty acids provides a positive feed-forward mechanism for regulation of phosphatidylcholine anabolism.

The metabolism of CDP-diacylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol in the microsomal fraction of rat liver. Effects of chlorpromazine, magnesium and manganese

1. The metabolism of CDPdiacylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol was measured using substrates bound to the microsomal membranes of rat liver. 2. Chlorpromazine inhibited the degradation of [14C]CDPdiacylglycerol and the concomitant inositol-independent release of 14C in water-soluble products in the presence of various concentrations of Mg2+ and Mn2+. 3. The activity of CDPdiacylglycerol inositol phosphatidyltransferase was measured by determining the rate of incorporation of [3H]inositol into phosphatidylinositol, and by the inositol-dependent release of water-soluble 14C from [14C]CDPdiacylglycerol. Both of these parameters were inhibited by chlorpromazine in incubations that contained rate-limiting concentrations of Mg2+. However, chlorpromazine stimulated the reaction when 20 mM Mg2+, 0.5 mM Mn2+, 2 mM Mn2+ or 20 mM Mn2+ was added to the incubations. 4. Low concentrations of chlorpromazine increased an inositol-exchange reaction in the presence of 0.5 mM Mn2+ whereas higher concentrations of chlorpromazine inhibited. Chlorpromazine had relatively less effect on the inositol-exchange reaction at higher concentrations of Mn2+. 5. The action of chlorpromazine in decreasing the breakdown of CDPdiacylglycerol and in stimulating its conversion to phosphatidylinositol could explain part of the mechanism by which this compound and other amphiphilic cations increase the synthesis of acidic phospholipids.

Effects of chronic modification of dietary fat and carbohydrate on the insulin, corticosterone and metabolic responses of rats fed acutely with glucose, fructose or ethanol

1. Male rats were fed for 14 days on powdered diets containing (by weight) 53% of starch, or on diets in which 20g of starch per 100g of diet was replaced by lard or corn oil. They were then fed acutely by stomach tube with a single dose of glucose, fructose or ethanol of equivalent energy contents, or with 0.15m-NaCl. The serum concentrations of corticosterone, insulin, glucose, glycerol, triacylglycerol and cholesterol were measured up to 6h after this treatment. 2. Feeding saline (0.9% NaCl) acutely to the rats maintained on the three powdered diets produced a small transient increase in circulating corticosterone that was similar to that in rats maintained on the normal 41B pelleted diet. 3. Feeding glucose acutely to the rats on the powdered diets produced peak concentrations of corticosterone that were 2-3-fold higher than those seen in rats maintained on the 41B diet. The duration of this response increased in the order starch diet<lard diet<corn-oil diet. This abnormal corticosterone response to glucose feeding appeared to be responsible for an increased activity in phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in the livers of rats fed the starch and lard diets of 2.9- and 4.9-fold respectively. The latter increase was similar to that produced by ethanol, whereas glucose did not increase the phosphohydrolase activity in the liver of rats maintained on the 41B diet. 4. Feeding fructose acutely produced even more marked increases than glucose in the concentrations of circulating corticosterone in rats given the powdered diets, but unlike glucose did not increase circulating insulin. The duration of the corticosterone response again increased in the order starch diet<lard diet<corn-oil diet. The concentrations of circulating glucose were increased by fructose feeding in rats maintained on these diets, but they were not altered in the rats maintained on the 41B pellets. A prolonged increase in serum corticosterone concentrations was also observed when fructose was fed to rats maintained on pelleted diets enriched with corn oil or beef tallow rather than with starch or sucrose. However, these effects were less marked than those seen with rats fed on the powdered diets. 5. These results are discussed in relation to the mechanism whereby high dietary fat exaggerates the effects of ethanol, fructose and sorbitol in stimulating triacylglycerol synthesis in the liver.

Effects of chronic modification of dietary fat and carbohydrate in rats

1. Rats were fed on diets enriched with starch, sucrose, corn oil or beef tallow for 3 weeks and the activities of various enzymes in the liver were measured. 2. The mitochondrial glycerol phosphate acyltransferase activity was lower in rats fed on the starch diet than on the two high-fat diets. 3. The non-microsomal (presumably peroxisomal) dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase activity was higher in rats fed on the starch diet and corn-oil diets than in those fed on the sucrose and beef-tallow diets. Urate oxidase activity was higher in rats fed on the starch diet than in the three other groups. There were no significant differences in the activity of acyl-CoA oxidase among the groups. 4. The activity of soluble phosphatidate phosphohydrolase was not significantly different among the dietary groups. There were increases of 3.3--4.3-fold in this activity in the dietary groups 6h after injection of corticotropin. The equivalent increases for the mitochondrial glycerol phosphate acyltransferase were 1.4--1.6 fold. 5. The corticosterone responses to the corticotropin injection were not significantly different between dietary groups. However, the corticosterone response of the rats fed on the two high-fat diets was prolonged when the rats were given an acute load of fructose [Brindley, Cooling, Glenny, Burditt & McKechnie (1981) Biochem. J. 200. 275--283]. 6. Rats fed on the high-fat diets had higher concentrations of circulating cholesterol than those fed on the starch and sucrose diets. Serum triacylglycerol concentrations were lower in the rats fed on the starch diet than in the three other groups. 7. The results are discussed in terms of the relationship between diet, hormonal balance and hepatic glycerolipid metabolism.

The activities of lipoprotein lipase and of enzymes involved in triacylglycerol synthesis in rat adipose tissue. Effects of starvation, dietary modification and of corticotropin injection

1. The effects of dietary modification, including starvation, and of corticotropin injection on the activities of acyl-CoA synthetase, glycerol phosphate acyltransferase, dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase, phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, diacylglycerol acyltransferase and lipoprotein lipase were measured in adipose tissue. 2. Lipoprotein lipase activities in heart were increased and those in adipose tissue were decreased when rats were fed on diets enriched with corn oil or beef tallow rather than with sucrose or starch. The lipoprotein lipase activity was lower in the adipose tissue of rats fed on the sucrose rather than on the starch diet. 3. Rats fed on the beef tallow diet had slightly higher activities of the total glycerol phosphate acyltransferase in adipose tissue than did rats fed on the sucrose or starch diet. The diacylglycerol acyltransferase and the mitochondrial glycerol phosphate acyltransferase activities were higher for the rats fed on the tallow diet than for those fed on the corn-oil diet. 4. Starvation significantly decreased the activities of lipoprotein lipase (after 24 and 48 h), acyl-CoA synthetase (after 24 h) and of the mitochondrial glycerol phosphate acyltransferase and the N-ethylmaleimide-insensitive dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase (after 48 h) in adipose tissue. The activities of the microsomal glycerol phosphate acyltransferase, diacylglycerol acyltransferase and the soluble phosphatidate phosphohydrolase were not significantly changed after 24 or 48 h of starvation. 5. The activities of lipoprotein lipase and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in adipose tissue were decreased 15 min after corticotropin was injected into rats during November to December. No statistically significant differences were found when these experiments were performed during March to September. These differences may be related to the seasonal variation in acute lipolytic responses. 6. These results are discussed in relation to the control of triacylglycerol synthesis and lipoprotein metabolism.

Factors controlling the metabolism of phosphatidate by phosphohydrolase and phospholipase A-type activities. Effects of magnesium, calcium and amphiphilic cationic drugs

1. The simultaneous deacylation and dephosphorylation of 1,2-diacyl-sn-[3H]glycerol 3-phosphate by the microsomal and soluble fraction of rat liver was studied. The substrate was either in the form of an emulsion or bound to microsomal membranes. 2. Mg2+ stimulated the deacylation and dephosphorylation of phosphatidate emulsions by both fractions, although the stimulation of both microsomal activities was less than that in the soluble fraction. The preparations of membrane-bound phosphatidate contained Mg2+. Further addition of Mg2+ inhibited dephosphorylation, whereas low concentrations of EDTA stimulated. Additional Mg2+ had little effect on the deacylation of membrane-bound phosphatidate and EDTA inhibited it. 3. Ca2+ inhibited the phosphohydrolase reactions in both fractions, but had little effect on the deacylation of phosphatidate emulsions or membrane-bound phosphatidate. 4. In the absence of Mg2+, lower concentrations of amphiphilic cations (chlorpromazine and benfluorex) stimulated the deacylation and dephosphorylation of phosphatidate emulsions by the soluble fraction. They also stimulated deacylation by the microsomal fraction, but inhibited dephosphorylation. In the present of 5 mM MgCl2, these drugs inhibited the dephosphorylation and deacylation of phosphatidate emulsions, the deacylation reaction being slightly less sensitive. Chlorpromazine (0.4 and 0.8 mM) also inhibited the dephosphorylation of membrane-bound Mg2+-phosphatidate by microsomal and microsomal plus soluble fractions. The deacylation was stimulated by 0.4 mM chlorpromazine and by 1 and 2 mM norfenfluramine. Chlorpromazine (0.8 mM) inhibited the deacylation by microsomal plus soluble fractions, but not by microsomal fractions alone. 5. The possible importance of the deacylation of phosphatidate in the physiological and pharmacological control of glycerolipid synthesis is discussed.

Control of hepatic triacylglycerol synthesis. Diurnal variations in hepatic phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity and in the concentrations of circulating insulin and corticosterone in rats

Male rats were kept for 14 days with alternating 12h periods of light and darkness. The hepatic activity of soluble phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and the concentration of serum insulin were maximum at about 2h after dark. The peak concentration of serum corticosterone occurred 2h before the dark period. It is proposed that corticosterone is partly responsible for the increased phosphohydrolase activity, and that this enables the liver to increase its capacity to synthesize triacylglycerols during the period of maximum feeding.

The involvement of glucocorticoids in regulating the activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and the synthesis of triacylglycerols in the liver. Effects of feeding rats with glucose, sorbitol, fructose, glycerol and ethanol

Feeding rats with sorbitol, fructose, glycerol and ethanol increases the concentration of serum corticosterone without significantly altering the concentration of insulin. This increase appears to be partly responsible for the increases in the hepatic activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (compared with rats fed glucose or 0.9% NaCl) that has been reported [Sturton, Pritchard, Han & Brindley (1978) Biochem. J. 174, 667--670] and the enhanced capacity of the liver to synthesize triacylglycerols. The ethanol-induced increase in phosphohydrolase activity was largely, but not completely, prevented by adrenalectomy.

The effects of cortisol, corticotropin and thyroxine on the synthesis of glycerolipids and on the phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity in rat liver

1. Male rats were injected daily for 5 days with 0.15m-NaCl, corticotropin, cortisol or l-thyroxine and the rates of glycerolipid synthesis were measured in the livers after intraportal injection of [(14)C]palmitate and [(3)H]glycerol. 2. Injection of all three hormones decreased the rates of body-weight gain. 3. Cortisol treatment increased the weight of the liver relative to body weight. 4. Thyroxine treatment increased the relative rate of triacylglycerol synthesis from [(3)H]glycerol and decreased the relative accumulation of (3)H and (14)C in diacylglycerol. It did not significantly alter the accumulation of these isotopes in phosphatidate nor the activity of the soluble phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in the total liver. However, this activity increased by 1.5-fold when expressed relative to the soluble protein of the liver. The increased triacylglycerol synthesis appears to be related to a general increase in the turnover of fatty acids in the liver. 5. Treatment with cortisol and corticotropin increased the relative rate of triacylglycerol synthesis from [(3)H]glycerol, decreased the accumulation of (3)H in phosphatidate and increased the flux of both isotopes from phosphatidate to diacylglycerol. This appeared to be caused by the increased activity of the soluble phosphatidate phosphohydrolase that was observed in the livers of the cortisol-treated rats. 6. It is proposed that cortisol could be directly or indirectly involved in increasing the activity of hepatic phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in starvation, diabetes, laparotomy, subtotal hepatectomy, liver damage, ethanol feeding and in obesity. This enzyme adaptation could contribute to the potential of the liver to increase its synthesis and accumulation of triacylglycerols or to secrete very-low-density lipoproteins.

The involvement of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and phospholipase A activities in the control of hepatic glycerolipid synthesis. Effects of acute feeding with glucose, fructose, sorbitol, glycerol and ethanol

Rats were fed by stomach tube with a single dose of glucose, sorbitol, fructose, glycerol or ethanol of equivalent energy contents or with 0.15 M-NaCl. They were killed 6 h later and the relative rates of phosphatidate deacylation and dephosphorylation measured in the microsomal and supernatant fractions of the livers. Treatment with sorbitol, fructose, glycerol and ethanol increased phosphohydrolase activities in the microsomal and supernatant fractions. The only significant change in deacylase activity was an increase in the microsomal fraction produced by ethanol. It is proposed that hepatic triacylglycerol synthesis is partly controlled by the balance between phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and phospholipase A-type activities.

The effect of dietary carbohydrate and fat on the activities of some enzymes responsible for glycerolipid synthesis in rat liver

1. Male rats were fed for 14 days on diets containing (by wt.) 53% of starch, or on diets in which 20% of the starch was replaced by sucrose, corn oil or lard. 2. The hepatic activities of the microsomal glycerol phosphate acyltransferase, dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase, phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase, diacylglycerol acyltransferase and choline phosphotransferase, and of the soluble phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, were measured. 3. The soluble phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity was higher in those rats fed on lard than in those fed on the starch diet. Choline phosphotransferase activity was higher in the rats fed on corn oil than in those fed on the starch diet. 4. The rate of hepatic glycerolipid synthesis was measured in vivo 1 min after injection of [1,3-3H]glycerol and [1-14C]palmitate into the portal veins. 5. The relative rate of phosphatidylcholine synthesis in vivo was increased after feeding with corn oil and the higher specific activity of choline phosphotransferase may contribute to this result. The equivalent rate of triacylglycerol synthesis was increased by feeding with lard rather than corn oil, and the increased activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase may partly explain this. The latter changes probably contribute to the increased concentration of triacylglycerol which other authors have observed in the livers and sera of animals fed on saturated and monounsaturated fats.

Problems encountered in measuring the activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase

The measurement of phosphate release from phosphatidate overestimates the microsomal activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from rat liver, since phosphate is also produced via the glycerol phosphate that results from the deacylation of phosphatidate. The determination of phosphate production can be a reliable assay for the soluble phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in rat liver, because the glycerol phosphate formed is not hydrolysed under the conditions used.

The effects of amphiphilic compounds on phosphatidate metabolism

Amphiphilic cations interact with phosphatidate and thereby change its physical properties. This interaction can redirect phospholipid metabolism. In the presence of Mg2+ amphiphilic cations inhibit the activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and stimulate that of phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase. Increasing the concentration of Mg2+ further, or adding Ca2+ have similar effects, except that Ca2+ does not stimulate phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase activity. Amphiphilic anions reverse the effects caused by the amphiphilic cations. The implication of these results are discussed in relation to the pharmacological effects of amphiphilic cationic drugs.

Some aspects of the physiological and pharmacological control of the synthesis of triacylglycerols and phospholipids

The effects of dietary modification, starvation, stress and diabetes on the activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase are discussed. Evidence is presented that this enzyme is involved in controlling the rate of triacylglycerol synthesis in the liver. Drugs such as fenfluramine and benfluorex are able to inhibit phosphatidate phosphohydrolase by interacting with the substrate. This decreases the rate of triacylglycerol synthesis and redirects the route of glycerolipid metabolism. Benfluroex also partly prevents the ethanol-induced increase in triacylglycerol synthesis and in phosphohydrolase activity. The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to the mode of action of fenfluramine and benfluorex and to the control of triacylglycerol synthesis.

The effect of chronic diabetes, induced by streptozotocin, on the activities of some enzymes of glycerolipid synthesis in rat liver

1. Rats were injected with a single dose of 35mg of streptozotocin/kg body wt. They exhibited a diabetes that was characterized by glycosuria, polyuria, polydipsia, hyperphagia, hyperglycaemia, increased concentrations of unesterified fatty acids, glycerol and triacylglycerols in the serum and an increased activity of glucose 6-phosphatase in the liver. 2. After 10 weeks the hepatic activities of the microsomal glycerol phosphate acyltransferase, phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase, diacylglycerol acyltransferase, choline phosphotransferase, CDP-diacylglycerol--inositol phosphatidyltransferase and the soluble phosphatidate phosphohydrolase were measured. 3. The only significant changes were an increase in the activity of the soluble phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and a decrease in that of the CDP-diacylglycerol--inositol phosphatidyltransferase in the diabetic rats. 4. These results are discussed in relation to the control of glycerolipid synthesis.

The effects of acute ethanol feeding and of chronic benfluorex administration on the activities of some enzymes of glycerolipid synthesis in rat liver and adipose tissue

Rats were treated for 5 days with benfluorex [1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-[N-(2-benzoyloxyethyl)amino]propane] or with suspending medium (controls). They were then intubated with an acute intoxicating dose of ethanol or with glucose of equivalent energy content. Treatment of the control rats with ethanol specifically increases the hepatic activity of the soluble phosphatidate phosphohydrolase by about 5-fold in 6 h. The equivalent increase for the benfluorex-treated rats were about 2-fold. The results are discussed in relation to the effects of ethanol and benfluorex on glycerolipid synthesis.

The effects of amphiphilic cationic drugs and inorganic cations on the activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase

1. Phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from the particle-free supernatant of rat liver was assayed by using emulsions of phosphatidate as substrate. 2. The inhibition of the phosphohydrolase by chlorpromazine was of a competitive type with respect to phosphatidate. The potency of various amphiphilic cationic drugs as inhibitors of this reaction was related to their partition coefficients into a phosphatidate emulsion. 3. The effect of chlorpromazine on the phosphohydrolase activity was complementary rather than antagonistic towards Mg2+. Chlorpromazine stimulated the phosphohydrolase activity in the absence of added Mg2+ and was able to replace the requirement for Mg2+. However, at optimum concentrations of Mg2+, chlorpromazine inhibited the reaction, as did Ca2+. The phosphohydrolase activity was also stimulated by Co2+ and to a lesser extent by Mn2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Ca2+, spermine and spermidine when Mg2+ was not added to the assays. 4. It is concluded that the inhibition of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase by amphiphilic cations can largely be explained by the interaction of these compounds with phosphatidate, which changes the physical properties of the lipid, making it less available for conversion into diacylglycerol. 5. The implications of these results to the effects of amphiphilic cations in redirecting glycerolipid synthesis at the level of phosphatidate are discussed.

Studies on the ethanol-induced changes in glycerolipid synthesis in rats and their partial reversal by N-(2-benzoyloxyethyl)norfenfluramine (benfluorex)

Rats were treated daily for 5 days with benfluorex (S-780) 50 mg kg−1 and 2 h after the fifth treatment were intubated with ethanol 5 g kg−1 or with isocaloric glucose. S-780 did not alter the absorption or oxidation of [1-14C]ethanol nor did it decrease the concentration of ethanol and its water soluble metabolites in the tissues examined. The rate of hepatic glycerolipid synthesis was measured in vivo using [14C]palmitate and [3H]glycerol and the accumulation of [14C]palmitate in various tissues was determined 4 h after intravenous injection. Ethanol treatment increased the relative rate of TG† synthesis in the liver and decreased the synthesis of PC, PE and PS + PI. The relative flux from PA to DG and TG was increased. These changes were reflected in the accumulation of [14C]palmitate in hepatic lipids and were obtained under conditions where the net rate of [14C]palmitate oxidation to 14CO2 was greater in those rats treated with ethanol instead of glucose. S-780 did not alter the oxidation rates over a 4 h period. Ethanol treatment increased the accumulation of [14C]palmitate in the PS + PI fraction of lung and decreased the proportion in PE. In kidney it increased the concentration of [14C]palmitate in TG, DG and PE and decreased the concentration in PC and PS + PI. Pretreatment of the rats with S-780 partially reversed the changes in palmitate accumulation in glycerolipids which were caused by ethanol. S-780 treatment also decreased the rate of hepatic TG synthesis from glycerol in the rats fed glucose. It increased the percentage recovery of [14C]palmitate in the livers and kidneys of glucose fed rats and decreased that in adipose tissue. This treatment decreased the proportion of [14C]palmitate recovered in the TG of the kidneys and lungs of these rats and increased the proportion in PI + PS. The results are discussed in relation to the mechanisms by which ethanol and S-780 are thought to interfere with glycerolipid synthesis.