Lipid metabolism in phosphatidylinositol transfer protein α-deficient vibrator mice

Abstract

Mice that are homozygous for the vibrator mutation express 65–85% less phosphatidylinositol transfer protein α (PITPα) than their wild type litter mates. By postnatal day 10–12 (P10–12) they exhibit signs of neurodegeneration and die prematurely by P40. In the present study, we examine the lipid content of brain, liver, and mammary glands from these animals. Lipid-mediated signal transduction is evaluated in primary fibroblast cultures. With respect to the lipid make-up of brain and liver, we report that there is a significant increase (2- to 4-fold) in the neutral lipids present in the livers of vb/ vb animals when compared with wild type (+/+) litter mates. No significant changes are observed in the brains of these animals. The mammary glands of vb/ vb mice are underdeveloped with respect to ductal and alveolar structures, and the fat pad is composed of predominantly brown adipose tissue rather than the white adipose tissue characteristic of age-matched wild type litter mates. No differences are observed in any aspect of lipid-mediated signal transduction.