The importance of liver in normal and silicotic lung-lipid homeostasis: 3. Triacylglycerols.

Early lung silicosis in rats activates the liver for triacylglycerol (TG) biosynthesis. The newly formed liver TG seems mobilized to the silicotic lung, as indicated by increased lung TG content and specific activity. These TG changes are associated with decreased TG content and increased TG specific activity in the liver. Serum TGs are also decreased at the study times of 6, 24, 72, and 144 h post intrapulmonary silica treatment.