PRENATAL ANDROGENIZATION OF LAMBS .2. METABOLISM IN ADIPOSE-TISSUE AND LIVER

In vitro measurements of metabolism were made in subcutaneous and peri renal adipose tissue (AT) and liver from prenatally androgenized ewe l ambs (TE), control ewe lambs (CE), and control wether lambs (CW). In a dipose tissue slices, release of glycerol or fatty acids into the medi um was not different among treatments, but glycerol release was greate r (P < .01) from subcutaneous AT than from perirenal AT. Basal fatty a cid release and the free fatty acid pool were greater (P < .05) for pe rirenal AT than for subcutaneous AT; fatty acid release and the fatty acid response (increased NEFA in media and tissue) were increased more by lipolytic stimuli in subcutaneous AT than in perirenal AT. Adipose tissue from CW had the greatest (P < .05) fatty acid response under c onditions of near-maximal stimulation; rates from TE were intermediate to those from CW and CE. Incorporation of glucose into fatty acids an d glycerol in subcutaneous AT was lowest (P < .05) for TE. Oxidation o f glucose and acetate to CO2 and incorporation of acetate into fatty a cids or glycerol in subcutaneous AT, glucose and acetate metabolism in perirenal AT, and cellularity measurements for both AT did not differ among treatments. In liver slices, oxidation of [1-C-14]propionate to CO2 was greater (P < .05) for CE than for TE or CW, and gluconeogenic capacity from [1-C-14]propionate tended to be greater (P < .10) for C E than for TE. Glucose and CO2 production from [2-C-14]propionate, [U- C-14]alanine, or [U-C-14]glycerol and total and peroxisomal first cycl e of beta-oxidation of [1-C-14]palmitate were not altered by prenatal androgenization or sex. There were no effects (P > .1) of prenatal exp osure to testosterone on mitochondrial protein content of liver, rates of mitochondrial state 3 or state 4 respiration, the ratio of ADP:oxy gen in the presence of respiratory substrates, or hepatic contents Of lipid, triglyceride, or glycogen. Protein content of liver was greater (P < .05) for CW than for CE; TE were intermediate. Collectively, the re were minimal modifications of in vitro metabolism in AT or liver at tributable to prenatal androgenization or sex that would directly infl uence ADG and carcass composition.