Original Paper

Effect of Fasting on Hepatic Lipase Activity in the Liver of Developing Rats
Julia Peinado-Onsurbe, Josep Julve, Xavier Galan, Miquel Llobera, Ignasi Ramírez

Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, España

Address of Corresponding Author

Biol Neonate 2000;77:131-138 (DOI: 10.1159/000014207)

  Key Words

• Heparin perfusion
• Hepatocytes
• Albumin
• mRNA abundance

  Abstract

The effect of fasting on hepatic lipase was studied during postnatal development in the rat. It was found that fasting produced a significant decrease in hepatic lipase only in neonatal (1-day-old) and adult (60-day-old) rats. We studied the effect of fasting on the distribution of hepatic lipase between extracellular (heparin-releasable) and intracellular (liver-retained or residual) compartments in perfused livers, and on the secretion of hepatic lipase by isolated hepatocytes. Fasting had similar effects in neonates and adults: it decreased both the heparin-releasing and the residual activities in perfused livers, and also decreased the rate of hepatic lipase secretion by isolated hepatocytes. Finally, the effect of fasting on hepatic lipase mRNA relative abundance in developing rat livers was determined. No difference was observed among the groups studied. It is concluded that the mechanisms involved in the effect of fasting on hepatic lipase appear to be similar in neonates and adult animals and may involve the post-translational processing of the enzyme.

Copyright © 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dra. Julia Peinado-Onsurbe
Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular
Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona
Diagonal 645, E-08071 Barcelona (Spain)
Tel. +34 3 402 15 46, Fax +34 3 402 15 59, E-Mail jpeinado@porthos.bio.ub.es

  Article Information

Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 6, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 45