Adaptive changes in total pyruvate dehydrogenase activity in lipogenic tissues of rats fed high-sucrose or high-fat diets.

1. Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) activity was measured in several tissues of rats fed for 7 or 15 days on control, or high-sucrose or high-fat diets. 2. Total activity in adipose tissue increased in the three groups 3-4 fold as compared with chow-fed animals in the first week. Total activity was 60% lower in rats fed the diet containing 22% corn oil for 2 weeks. 3. Hepatic total and PDCa activities were 50-80% higher in rats fed the sucrose diet for 7 or 15 days and decreased 30-40% in those fed on the high-fat diet for 2 weeks.