Stimulation of triacylglycerol synthesis in rat adipocytes by plasma very-low-density lipoproteins.

The effect of human plasma lipoproteins on lipogenesis from glucose has been studied in isolated rat adipocytes. The very-low-density lipoproteins increased lipogenesis specifically, whereas low-density lipoproteins and high-density lipoproteins were without effect. Such stimulation could be reproduced with partially delipidated very-low-density lipoproteins. Nod-esterified fatty acids and glycerol were also without effect. Pretreatment of the adipocytes with trypsin did not alter the effect of very-low-density lipoprotein. The presence of Ca2+ was required for the full activation of lipogenesis. The synthesis of acylglycerol fatty acids and of acylglycerol glycerol were equally increased. The effect of very-low-density lipoprotein was not additive to that of insulin. It is suggested that very-low-density lipoprotein may directly stimulate lipogenesis in fat-cells, particularly in states when the lipoproteins are present at high concentration in the circulation.