Effect of monensin and nocodazole on the intestinal lipid esterification in mouse jejunal organ culture.

The ability of mouse jejunal explants to esterify a lipid emulsion containing oleic acid, palmitic acid and monopalmitin has been studied in different in vitro experimental conditions. The incubating lipid solution must have a minimum volume for obtaining optimal triglyceride esterification by the cultured intestinal mucosa. In our incubating conditions the exchange of oleic for palmitic acid does not significantly modify the amount of lipids esterified by the explants in 15 min. Monensin or nocodazole, added to the culture medium of intestinal explants for 3 hr, significantly change the amount of lipids esterified and secreted. The inhibition observed after nocodazole treatment disappears, however, when the explants are rinsed and the culture is allowed to continue for an additional 3 hr in a drug-free medium. These results suggest that the regulation of lipid metabolism can be studied in organ culture.