Effect of Glucose or Oil Supplementation on Lipogenic Enzymes in Overfed Chicks

Abstract

Chicks of a light breed, aged 26 days, were force-fed by intubation for 10 days. The feed administered consisted of a basal low-fat closed formula cereal based diet and of supplements of either glucose or soybean oil supplied in isoenergetic amounts. Ad libitum-fed chicks served as controls. At the end of the experiment, the weights and lipid contents of carcass, livers and abdominal adipose tissue were determined, as was the glucose and lipid content of plasma. In addition the activities of citrate cleavage and malic enzymes were assayed in livers and adipose tissue. The increased weight and lipid content caused by glucose or oil supplements were similar in carcass and adipose tissue, but liver weight and fat content were increased much more by the glucose supplement than by the oil. The lipids which accumulated in the livers of force-fed chicks were essentially triglycA©rides. The glucose supplement caused a pronounced drop in the linoleic acid content of liver lipids, as well as an increase in oleic acid, whereas the oil produced the opposite effect. The glucose supplement caused a more pronounced hyperglycemia and hyperlipemia than did the oil. Activities of citrate cleavage and malic enzymes increased in proportion to the amount of carbohydrates force-fed in excess of the control intake. These and previous results show that chicks adapt to excess carbohydrate intake by both liver enlargement and increased activity of lipogenic en zymes. ' J. Nutr. JOS: 490-496, 1978.