Effect of orotic acid on the lipid and acid-soluble nucleotide concentrations in avian liver

Influence of orotic acid and estrogen on hepatic lipid storage and secretion in the goose susceptible to liver steatosis

Fatty liver in the goose results from an increased hepatic lipogenesis in response to overfeeding, together with a deficient secretion of triacylglycerol as very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL). Orotic acid and estrogen, which both modify lipid metabolism in the liver, were used in male geese as tools to understand the alterations of liver lipids and plasma lipoproteins during the induction of liver steatosis. Liver lipids were analyzed after solvent extraction and plasma lipoproteins after separation by density gradient ultracentrifugation. Contrary to what is known in the rat, orotic acid (1% in food for 2 weeks) failed to induce liver steatosis. In force-fed geese, liver weight increased from approximately 100 g to approximately 800 g in 2 weeks, as a consequence of a specific accumulation of triacylglycerol. In both groups, VLDL contained less triacylglycerol (35%) than normal. Such an uncoupling of triacylglycerol synthesis and secretion, of which the precise reason is still unknown, may facilitate their accumulation when force-feeding increases hepatic lipogenesis. As with force-feeding, triacylglycerol synthesis was enhanced by estrogen, but their secretion as VLDL was very efficient and prevented liver steatosis almost completely. Since HDL concentrations were considerably decreased by estrogen, VLDL were the main lipoprotein species, with 48 g/l and 62% triacylglycerol. Where estrogen-treated geese were force-fed concomitantly, VLDL concentration was even higher (62 g/l), but triacylglycerol secretion could not prevent liver steatosis (liver weight 640 g). The data are discussed in relation to in vitro studies showing that channelling of triacylglycerol towards secretion as VLDL or hepatic storage depends on their residence time in the different intracellular compartments.

Influence of orotic acid on performance, liver lipid content, and egg cholesterol level of laying hens

Three experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dietary orotic acid (OA) on laying hen performance, liver lipid content, and plasma and egg cholesterol levels. Laying hens were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, .5, 1.0, and 2.0% OA for 8 wk. Performance of the hens and cholesterol levels were measured at biweekly intervals. In all three experiments, OA decreased (P less than .05) BW in a linear manner. In two experiments, OA caused a linear decrease in total liver lipid (P less than .05), and in a third experiment OA resulted in a quadratic effect (P less than .01) on liver lipid content. There were no effects observed by OA supplementation on egg weight, yolk weight, percentage yolk, or egg production. Orotic acid failed to influence egg cholesterol content in any of the biweekly measurements of the three experiments. In two experiments, total plasma cholesterol content was not influenced by OA supplementation. Orotic acid significantly reduced (P less than .05) free and total plasma cholesterol in a third experiment when measured at Weeks 4, 6, and 8 of the experiment. The data indicate that OA is an ineffective dietary supplement for reducing egg cholesterol levels in laying hens.

Impaired glycosylation in liver microsomes of orotic-acid-fed rats

In rats fed orotic acid, the incorporation in liver subcellular fractions of sugars injected intraperitonealy is altered only for mannose, but not for fucose or galactose. Direct determinations of several glycosyltransferases are done in smooth and rough microsomes: fucosyl-, glactosyl-, N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activities are at quite similar levels in normal and fatty livers. By contrast, sialyltransferase activity is increased (+50%) in smooth microsomes of fatty livers, while mannosyltransferase activity is inhibited by 30%. These alterations are not caused by interfering reactions (pyrophosphatases or proteases). For the mannosyltransferase activity, the inhibition is found in the dolichylphosphorylmannose intermediates. Kinetic studies suggest that there is deficiency of both enzyme and endogenous dolichyl phosphate.

Metabolism of orotic acid: lack of orotate phosphoribosyltransferase in rat intestinal mucosa

The main enzymes involved in orotic acid metabolism, orotate phosphoribosyltransferase and orotidine 5'-phosphate decarboxylase, are associated as a multienzyme complex (complex U) which is present in the liver of most vertebrate species. Orotic-acid-enriched diets produce increased pyrimidine synthesis which competes with purine synthesis for 5-phosphoribosyl diphosphate, resulting in decreased adenylate levels in liver cells. Inhibition of secretion of very low density lipoproteins and hepatic steatosis is then observed. In contrast, lipoproteins secretion by the intestine is not impaired and fat does not accumulate in enterocytes. The aim of this work was to investigate whether orotate is differently metabolized in gut and in liver thus explaining the lack of effect on the intestinal lipoproteins secretion. Complex U was found in appreciable amounts in rat, mouse and rabbit livers; the intestinal mucosa of the two last species contains a much lower level of multienzyme complex whereas in rat intestine its activity cannot be detected. Indeed, radioactive aspartate and orotate were not incorporated into intestinal cells RNA. The absence of orotate metabolisation by lack of orotate phosphoribosyltransferase and orotidine 5'-phosphate decarboxylase activity in rat intestine would explain why this organ, in contrast to the liver, is protected against disturbances of nucleotide metabolism and lipoproteins secretion induced by orotic-acid-supplemented diets.