Effects of pregnancy and lactation on the metabolism of bovine adipose tissue.

The incorporation of [2-14C] acetate into the triglycerides of adipocytes from bovine omental adipose tissue was at a minimum during peak lactation but increased again in late lactation. Similar but somewhat greater changes were observed for adipocytes from subcutaneous adipose tissue. In both tissues the activities of four enzymes concerned with fatty acid synthesis were lowest during peak lactation. In omental tissue lipoprotein lipase activity was lowest during peak lactation but there was a marked increase in its activity in the udder during lactation. In both omental and subcutaneous adipocytes the rate of glycerol release at peak lactation was higher than at all other stages of pregnancy and lactation. At peak lactation plasma insulin levels were low but growth hormone levels were higher than at all other stages of pregnancy and lactation. These results suggest that lipogenic precursors were diverted away from adipose tissue in early lactation and stored triglycerides were made available for use elsewhere in the body.