Rat hepatocyte lipogenesis and insulin-stimulated lipogenesis: comparison of metabolite effects and methods of measurement.

This study compared the effects of certain metabolites (either singly or in various combinations) and the methods of measuring lipogenesis (using either 14C-acetate or 3H2O incorporation into lipids) on total lipid synthesis and insulin-stimulated total lipid synthesis in the isolated rat hepatocyte. There were quantitative and qualitative differences between 14C-acetate and 3H2O incorporation into lipids; metabolites acutely affected both lipogenesis and insulin-stimulated lipogenesis with either isotope; and insulin's effect on lipogenesis was greater when measured by 14C-acetate incorporation. It is suggested that a particular choice of incubation media and isotope may inadvertently bias a study of insulin-stimulated lipogenesis and that metabolite supply plays a major role in regulating insulin-stimulated lipogenesis.