Plasma triacylglycerol turnover in rats using labeled glycerol

Effect on days of lactation and methionine hydroxy analog on incorporation of plasma fatty acids into plasma triglycerides

Methionine hydroxy analog has been proposed to stimulate hepatic lipoprotein synthesis and incorporation of plasma fatty acids into plasma triglyceride. Seven cows were fed diets containing 0 or 30 g analog/d starting 14 d prepartum. At approximately 30 and 60 d postpartum, cows were continuously infused intravenously with 1-[14C] palmitic acid for 160 min to achieve steady-state labeling of plasma fatty acid and triglyceride. Turnover of fatty acid and transfer quotients for triglyceride and CO2 were 3.3 and 2.7 mmol min-1; 13.0 and 10.0%; and 8.0 and 5.0%, for control and analog, respectively. Proportion of fatty acid turnover incorporated into triglyceride and CO2 were 14.0 and 15.0%; and 21.0 and 18.0, respectively, for control and analog. Analog increased 14C recovered in milk fat (52 vs. 36%). Plasma concentration of fatty acids, percent oxidized to CO2, and percent of CO2 from fatty acids decreased with increasing lactation days. Milk fat percent and yield, fatty acid turnover, and oxidation were positively correlated with concentration of plasma fatty acids, whereas fatty acid incorporated into plasma triglyceride was negatively correlated with fatty acid concentration. The data suggest that hepatic triglyceride secretion is not increased in early lactation; further, no effects of analog on lipid metabolism were detected.