Adaptive responses of enzymes of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism to dietary alteration in genetically obese Zucker rats (fa/fa).

1. Measurements have been made of the activities of enzymes of the glycolytic route, the pentose phosphate pathway, the tricarboxylic acid cycle and lipogenesis in liver and adipose tissue from genetically obese (fa/fa) rats and their lean litter mates (fa/ --). The effect of food restriction for a period of three weeks on the enzyme profile of liver and adipose tissue of the obese rat was also studied. 2. The most striking increases in enzyme activity in livers from obese rats were: (a) among enzymes of lipogenesis; ATP-citrate lyase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthetase, malate dehydrogenase (decarboxylating) and cytoplasmic glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase; (b) within the pentose phosphate pathway; glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase; (c) within the glycolytic pathway; glucokinase, pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase. All of these enzymes showed a significant increase in activity on the basis of U/g liver and U/mg DNA. In adipose tissue all the enzymes of lipogenesis, of the glycolytic route, of the oxidative segment of the pentose phosphate pathway and of the tricarboxylic acid cycle were increased when expressed as U/2 fat pads or as U/mg DNA. 3. The restriction of the food intake of obese rats to that consumed by their lean litter mates for periods of three weeks did not produce the expected adaptive decrease in enzymes of lipogenesis; in adipose tissue, only ATP-citrate lyase and malate dehydrogenase (decarboxylating) showed a marked decrease; no significant change was found in adipose tissue or liver of the activities of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase, when expressed on a cell basis (U/mg DNA). The non-oxidative enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway and enzymes involved in glycerogenesis (pyruvate carboxylase, malate dehydrogenase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase) all increased in adipose tissue from limit-fed obese rats. 4. The rate of conversion of specifically labelled glucose to (14C)O2 and 14C-labelled lipid by pieces of adipose tissue and by liver slices was also measured. Insulin caused an increase in the conversion of (1-14C)glucose to (14C)O2 and 14C-labelled lipid in obese rats fed ad libitum, limit-fed rats and in their lean litter mates. 5. The results are discussed in relation to the raised insulin and hypothyroid state of the obese rat. The effect of this altered hormonal status on the activity of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases and cellular levels of adenosine 3' :5'-monophosphate and guanosine 3' :5'-monophosphate and guanosine 3' :5'-monophosphate in relation to the obese syndrome is considered.