LIPID-METABOLISM IN RATS BEARING THE YOSHIDA AH-130 ASCITES HEPATOMA

Rats bearing the Yoshida AH-130 ascites hepatoma showed important chan ges in lipid metabolism. The presence of this rapidly growing tumour i nduced a significant reduction in the intestinal absorption of an oral [C-14]triolein load but without changes in whole body oxidation of th e tracer to CO2. Both white (WAT) and brown (BAT) adipose tissue lipop rotein lipase (LPL) activities were increased at day 4 of tumour growt h, changes that seem to be related with those observed in [C-14]lipid accumulation; however, heart LPL activity was increased at day 7 but t here was no change at day 4. In addition, there was a marked hyperlipe mia in the tumour-bearing animals, whereas the blood ketone body conce ntrations were lower in these animals in comparison with the correspon ding pair-fed group. The in vivo lipogenic rate was increased in liver of the tumour-bearing animals (day 4); conversely, it was decreased i n WAT and skeletal muscle (day 4) and IBAT (day 7) of the AH-130-beari ng rats. It may be suggested that the increased liver lipogenic rate a ssociated with tumour burden is the main factor contributing to the hy perlipidaemia present in the Yoshida AH-130 bearing rats.