Apolipoprotein B production and very low density lipoprotein secretion by calf liver slices.

Secretion of triglycerides by the liver in ruminants as components of very low density lipoproteins particles is low as compared with that in primates or rodents. The rate-limiting steps for the hepatic export of very low density lipoproteins have been studied in liver slices to determine the origin of the low lipotropic capacity of calf liver compared to that of rat liver. The rates of production of apolipoprotein B (apo B) and albumin as well as the rate of secretion of VLDL-apolipoproteins were measured during 12-h incubation of liver slices in organo-culture using [35S]methionine-cysteine labeling. Hepatic apo B production was similar in the two animal species but the VLDL-apolipoprotein secretion rate for calf liver slices amounted to only 20% of that observed for rat liver slices. Although calf and rat liver slices synthesized similar amounts of total protein, the hepatic production of albumin, measured in cells and media, was much higher in calf than rat liver slices (around 2.7-fold), whereas the rate secretion of albumin was similar in the two species. Our results showed that the slow rate of secretion of VLDL by calf liver cells was not consecutive to a low rate of synthesis of apo B but rather to a defect in VLDL assembly and/or secretion.

Effects of milk diets containing beef tallow or coconut oil on the fatty acid metabolism of liver slices from preruminant calves.

Coconut oil (CO) induces a triacylglycerol infiltration in the hepatocytes of preruminant calves when given as the sole source of fat in the milk diet over a long-term period. Metabolic pathways potentially involved in this hepatic triacylglycerol accumulation were studied by in vitro methods on liver slices from preruminant Holstein x Friesian male calves fed a conventional milk diet containing CO (n 5) or beef tallow (BT, n 5) for 19 d. Liver slices were incubated for 12 h in the presence of 0.8 mm-[14C]oleate or -[14C]laurate added to the medium. Fatty acid oxidation was determined by measuring the production of CO2 (total oxidation) and acid-soluble products (partial oxidation). Production of CO2 was 1. 7-3.6-fold lower (P 0.0490) and production of acid-soluble products tended to be lower (P = 0.0625) in liver slices of CO- than BT-fed calves. Fatty acid esterification as neutral lipids was 2.6- to 3. 1-fold higher (P = 0.0088) in liver slices prepared from calves fed the CO diet compared with calves fed the BT diet. By contrast with what occurs in the liver of rats fed CO, the increase in neutral lipid production did not stimulate VLDL secretion by the hepatocytes of calves fed with CO, leading to a triacylglycerol accumulation in the cytosol. It could be explained by the reduction of fatty acid oxidation favouring esterification in the form of triacylglycerols, in association with a limited availability of triacylglycerols and/or apolipoprotein B for VLDL packaging and subsequent secretion.

Effects of dietary coconut oil on apolipoprotein B synthesis and VLDL secretion by calf liver slices.

Incorporation of coconut oil (CO) rich in lauric acid into the milk diet induces a lipid infiltration of the liver (steatosis) in 1-month-old calves. Among possible steps involved in diet-induced liver steatosis, the ability of the calf liver to synthesize apolipoprotein (Apo) B and to secrete it as part of VLDL particles was investigated. Liver samples were taken from calves fed for 17 d on a conventional milk replacer containing CO (n 5) and beef tallow (BT, n 4) as reference. Samples were cut into slices 0.5 mm thick and subsequently incubated for 12 h in a medium containing a [(35)S]methionine-[(35)S]cysteine mix and 0.8 mm-sodium laurate or oleate, the major fatty acids of CO and BT diets respectively. Concentrations of total [(35)S]proteins, [(35)S]albumin and [(35)S]ApoB in liver cells were 2-fold lower 0.0004 and 0.03 respectively) in CO- than in BT-fed calves. Although the total amount of proteins secreted (including albumin) was similar in both groups of calves, the amount of VLDL-[(35)S]Apo secreted was 2-fold lower (P = 0.004) in CO- than in BT-fed calves. These results suggest that a CO-enriched milk diet induces in preruminant calves a lipid infiltration of the liver by decreasing ApoB synthesis, leading to a reduction in secretion of VLDL particles.