Time course of changes in rat serum apolipoproteins during the consumption of different low protein diets followed by a balanced diet.

The effects of protein malnutrition (PM) followed by refeeding a balanced diet on apolipoprotein and lipid contents of the serum lipoproteins were studied in young Wistar male rats. The changes of serum apolipoproteins were compared with the appearance of fatty liver during PM and its disappearance during refeeding. The control group (T) was fed a balanced diet containing 15% casein for 42 d. Two depleted groups (C) and (G1) were fed for 28 d low protein diets containing 2% casein and 5% gluten, respectively, and then were fed the balanced diet for 14 d. During PM a concentration of triacylglycerols (TGs) in liver in the two depleted groups increased; the level in rats fed 2% casein was twice that in rats fed 5% gluten. There was a significant negative correlation between serum TGs and liver TGs. The serum apolipoproteins (apo) did not respond consistently. The high-density lipoproteins apo A-I, A-II and A-IV, which are more than 50% synthetized in the intestine, remained essentially unchanged, thus showing resistance to protein malnutrition. The very low density lipoproteins apo B and total apo C, which mainly originate from liver, were significantly lower in malnourished groups than in controls, while the liver TGs accumulated in malnourished groups. Only the levels of total apo C and apo B48 were correlated with hepatic TG steatosis during malnutrition and refeeding.