Pyruvate dehydrogenase and ATP citrate (pro-3S)-lyase activities in adipose tissue and liver of the young lean and the older obese rat.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase and ATP citrate lyase, two lipogenic enzymes, were measured in young, lean and older, obese rats. While no significant differences were observed between the livers of the two groups, both enzymes were greatly reduced in epididymal adipose tissue of older rats. A similar decrease was found in adipose tissue from the perirenal, but not from the interscapular region. Prolonged meal-feeding over a one-year period did not prevent the loss of pyruvate dehydrogenase activity in epididymal fat pads. In short term experiments of two weeks' duration this feeding regimen elevated the activities of both enzymes in adipose tissue of young but not of older rats. It is concluded that the state of activity of adipose tissue pyruvate dehydrogenase and ATP citrate lyase is at least in part responsible for the augmented lipogenesis observed in meal-fed rats and for the reduced lopogenic capacity and insulin sensitivity seen in old obese rats.