Rat High Density Lipoprotein Research Articles

In vivo apoprotein catabolism of high density lipoproteins in copper-deficient, hypercholesterolemic rats.

High density lipoprotein (HDL) apoprotein catabolism was examined in male Sprague-Dawley rats deficient in dietary copper. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into two groups: copper-adequate (control, 5 mg of copper/kg diet) and copper-deficient (0.6 mg of copper/kg diet). After 5 weeks, animals were administered a tracer dose of iodinated HDL protein previously isolated from donor rats that were subjected to the same dietary treatments as the test animals. Copper-deficient rats exhibited a 54% increase in plasma volume and a 26% increase in HDL protein concentration above controls. Consequently, the intravascular pool of total HDL protein was increased 2-fold. The fractional catabolic rate of total HDL protein was similar between groups. However, because of the increased intravascular HDL pool in copper-deficient animals, the absolute catabolic rate was greater (640 +/- 49 micrograms/hr vs 316 +/- 12 micrograms/hr in controls). Tissue uptake of total HDL protein in copper-deficient rats tended to be greater in the kidneys, spleen, and testes compared with controls; the heart exhibited a significant 2.3-fold increase. In contrast, the catabolic rate of HDL protein in the liver and adrenal gland were not different between treatment groups. That an obligatory increase in HDL protein uptake was not observed in the liver and adrenal gland (organs which are sensitive to and can further metabolize cholesterol) suggests that these organs may be regulated, possibly contributing to the observed hypercholesterolemia in this model. These data imply that total HDL apoprotein catabolism is increased in response to the increased intravascular pool of HDL in copper-deficient rats.

Cholesterol transfer from mitochondrial membranes and cells to human and rat serum lipoprotein fractions.

We have investigated the transfer of [14C]cholesterol from labeled bovine heart mitochondria and Friend erythroleukemic cells to high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) fractions from human and rat plasma. The lipoprotein fractions were obtained by molecular sieve chromatography of plasma on agarose A-5m columns. For either membrane system, the highest rate of [14C]cholesterol transfer was observed with the human and the rat HDL fraction. Since the mitochondria lack the receptors for HDL, one may conclude that the observed preferential transfer is not governed by a receptor-controlled interaction of HDL with the membrane. Under conditions where the pool of free cholesterol in the lipoprotein fractions was the same, HDL was a much more efficient acceptor of [14C]cholesterol from mitochondria than LDL or VLDL. Similarly, transfer of [14C]cholesterol proceeded at a higher rate to HDL than to sonicated egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles, even under conditions where there was a tenfold excess of the vesicle-PC pool over the HDL phospholipid pool. This preferred transfer of [14C]cholesterol to HDL cannot be explained by a random diffusion of monomer cholesterol molecules. Rather, it shows that HDL has a specific effect on this process in the sense that it most likely enhances the efflux of cholesterol from the membrane. Treatment of HDL with trypsin reduced the rate of [14C]cholesterol transfer by 40-50%, indicating that protein component(s) are involved. One of these components appears to be apoA-I, as this protein was shown to enhance the transfer of [14C]cholesterol from mitochondria to lipid vesicles.

Differences in uptake of high-density lipoproteins by rat adrenals using in vivo vs. in situ perfusion techniques

This study describes the effect of the delivery route of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) on the ultimate fate of the lipoprotein in the intact rat adrenal. Equal amounts of human (h)-derived affinity-purified apoE-free 125I-labeled HDL 3 was given to ethinyl estradiol-treated (i.e., lipoprotein-deficient) rats either intravenously (in vivo route) or by non-recycling perfusion (in situ perfusion route). After 60–90 min, the adrenals were either excised and assessed for uptake of radioactivity, or perfusion-fixed with glutaraldehyde and prepared for autoradiograms at the electron microscope level. The results show that hHDL 3 circulated in vivo binds 9-times more readily to adrenal tissues than the same quantity of ligand delivered by perfusion. Also, when the lipoprotein is administered in vivo, it is 5-times more likely to be interiorized as an intact particle by zona fasciculata (corticosterone-secreting) cells via an endocytic pathway than when delivered by perfusion. Similar differences between the in vivo and in situ routes were not seen when 125I-labeled rat HDL was the ligand delivered. Whereas the starting hHDL 3 ligand was free of apoE, there was a substantial (7-fold) conversion of the HDL 3 to apoE-containing HDL 3 following in vivo circulation of the ligand, as shown by sodium phosphotungstate-MgCl 2 precipitation or heparin-Sepharose column chromatography. These results show that the route of lipoprotein delivery to specific tissues can play a major role in determining both the binding and the processing of the ligand by the tissue in question. With hHDL 3, acquisition of apoE during only 1 h of recirculation in lipoprotein-deficient rats was sufficient to totally alter the fate ligand in the adrenal cortex.

Effects of heparin-induced lipolytic activity on the structure of rat high-density lipoprotein

Following its secretion into the plasma compartment, the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is presumed to be acted upon by both soluble enzymes, such as lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), and membrane-associated enzymes, such as lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase. Rats were injected intravenously with heparin to release membrane-associated lipolytic activities into the circulation and the collected plasma was incubated overnight at 37 degrees C in the presence or absence of an LCAT inhibitor or an inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase (1 M NaCl). It was observed that lipoprotein lipase accounted for most of the triglyceride hydrolase activity in the heparin-treated plasma, and that the heparin-releasable activities caused an increase in HDL density but no measurable change in particle size when LCAT was inhibited. Heparin treatment caused about a 60% decrease in plasma triacylglycerol during the interval between injection of heparin and blood collection. Although this caused marked compositional changes in the d less than 1.063 g/ml lipoproteins, no changes were observed in the lipid composition or apoprotein distribution in the HDL. Subsequent incubation for 18 h at 37 degrees C produced marked increases in the apoE content of HDL from heparin-treated plasma even when LCAT was inhibited. Time-course studies showed that in the presence of an LCAT inhibitor there was considerable conversion of phosphatidylcholine to lysophosphatidylcholine in heparin-treated plasma, and that this activity was diminished by 1 M NaCl, but that no phospholipolysis was observed in control plasma. By contrast, both heparin-treated and control plasma possessed substantial triglyceride hydrolase activity. The concurrent action of lipases and LCAT was observed to reduce the maximum level of cholesterol esterification which could be achieved in the absence of lipase activity. It is concluded that changes in HDL particle size are mainly attributable to LCAT, but that lipase activities, which are either free in rat plasma or releasable by heparin, play a role in restructuring the phospholipid moiety and altering the protein composition of the HDL, especially with respect to apoE, a potential ligand to cellular receptors.

Rat tissues express serum amyloid A protein-related mRNAs.

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a small (12 kDa) acute-phase apoprotein of high density lipoprotein found in mammals. It is also the precursor to amyloid protein A, the main protein constituent of fibrils found in amyloidosis secondary to chronic or recurrent inflammation--e.g., rheumatoid arthritis. However, rats do not develop amyloidosis and SAA is not an apoprotein of rat high density lipoprotein; thus rats appear to be an exception in regard to expression of SAA genes. We report here that rats do have representatives of the SAA gene family and express two distinct SAA mRNAs. Moreover, the pattern of genes expressed among tissues, and their induction by inflammatory agents, is similar to that of related mouse genes. RNA from various tissues of normal and injured rats was examined by RNA blot hybridization with SAA cDNA and complementary RNA probes for the three murine SAA genes. A SAA mRNA of approximately 400 nucleotides related to mouse SAA1 and SAA2 mRNAs reached a high level in liver 24 hr after injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide. No extra-hepatic tissues were found to express the SAA1/SAA2-related mRNA. Turpentine induced two hepatic SAA1/SAA2-related mRNAs of approximately 400 and approximately 500 nucleotides in length. Liver SAA1/SAA2-related mRNA hybrid selected and translated in a wheat germ protein-synthesizing system, from lipopolysaccharide- and turpentine-injected rats, produced a single protein with an estimated molecular mass of 8 kDa. This rat liver SAA-related mRNA appears to lack a highly conserved coding region for portions of two amphipathic helical domains and the joining sequence. An mRNA related to mouse SAA3 was found expressed at a high level in lung after lipopolysaccharide but not following turpentine injection. This mRNA was also expressed at high levels in ileum and large intestine of control rats and was not found in the liver of control or challenged rats. These observations show that the SAA gene family is present and expressed in rats and that its expression is found under situations similar to those found in mice. This lends support for the importance of the SAA gene family in the response to injury by vertebrates.

Apoprotein E-rich high density lipoproteins inhibit ovarian androgen synthesis.

The influence of high density lipoproteins (HDL) on luteinizing hormone-stimulated rat ovarian theca/interstitial cell steroidogenesis was studied. Without HDL the cells produced primarily androgens from progestin precursors. In the presence of rat or human HDL steroid output increased 3-5-fold, but the type of steroid produced was dependent on the source of the HDL. Human HDL nonselectively amplified luteinizing hormone-stimulated steroid production, whereas rat HDL promoted progestin production without a concomitant increase in androgen output. Comparisons of the activities of apoprotein E-rich HDL (e.g. HDL from intact mature rats) with apoprotein E-poor HDL (e.g. human HDL or rat HDL from hypophysectomized immature rats) suggested that apoprotein E was responsible for the inhibition of androgen production. Furthermore, the inhibitory activity of rat HDL was abolished by depleting apoprotein E-containing lipoproteins with heparin affinity chromatography. Direct evidence that apoprotein E was the inhibitory constituent of rat HDL was obtained by showing that isolated lipid-free rat apoprotein E inhibited androgen production, whereas isolated rat apoproteins A-I and A-IV did not. The possible paracrine function of apoprotein E in ovarian follicular maturation of the ovary is discussed.

Role of high-density lipoprotein in transport of circulating bilirubin in rats.

The analbuminemic rat strain established by Nagase et al. (Nagase, S., Shimamune, K., and Shumiya, S. (1979) Science 205, 590-591) exhibits hereditary deficiency in albumin biosynthesis. Serum bilirubin concentration is rather lower in homozygous (aa) rats (0.009 +/- 0.002 mg/dl) as compared with heterozygous (Aa) rats (0.047 +/- 0.009 mg/dl) or wild-type Sprague-Dawley (AA) rats (0.034 +/- 0.006 mg/dl) as evidenced by high pressure liquid chromatography analysis of bilirubin. After intravenous administration of various amounts of [heme-3H]hemoglobin in rats, [3H]bilirubin derived from [3H]heme of hemoglobin in vivo is more efficiently excreted into bile in aa rats than in Aa or AA rats. [3H]Bilirubin is exclusively bound with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in aa rats, and a significant amount of [3H]bilirubin is shown to bind with HDL in Aa or AA rats in vivo. Scatchard plots revealed that [3H]bilirubin is bound with HDL in three binding modes depending on the molar ratio of [3H]bilirubin to HDL: Kd = 0.8 X 10(-7) M (molar ratio, 0.02-0.06), Kd = 1.6 X 10(-6) M (molar ratio, 0.06-0.41), and Kd = 1.2 X 10(-4) M (molar ratio, 0.79-9.02). Even under extreme conditions of excess hemoglobin administration, the molar ratio remains under 0.041; and thus, expected the Kd value would remain around 0.8 X 10(-7) M. Binding of [3H]bilirubin to rat serum albumin revealed two distinct binding modes depending on the molar ratio of [3H]bilirubin to rat serum albumin: Kd = 3.6 X 10(-7) M (molar ratio, 0.03-0.21), and Kd = 5.0 X 10(-6) M (molar ratio, 0.21-2.46). Under physiological conditions in Aa or AA rats, the former mode would be more reliable than the latter. Thus, HDL could bind with approximately 4.5 times higher affinity than rat serum albumin in Aa or AA rats under physiological conditions in vivo.

Separation of three compositionally distinct subclasses of rat high density lipoproteins by heparin-affinity chromatography

The composition of 3 subclasses of plasma high density lipoproteins (HDL) separated by heparin-affinity chromatography was characterized. Plasma was obtained from Fischer-344 adult male rats fed a semi-purified diet containing 1 % cholesterol. HDL particles were isolated by ultracentrifugation and agarose column chromatography. The purified HDL fraction was applied to a column (1.0 × 28 cm) packed with heparin-Sepharose CL-6B and eluted at 4°C with 5 mM Tris buffer (pH 7.4) with varying concentrations of NaCl. The first peak (PI) eluted with 50 mM NaCl and 25 mM MnCl 2 was albumin; the second peak (P2) eluted at 70 mM NaCl accounted for 78% of total plasma HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and 82% of total HDL protein. The particles of this HDL subclass measured 113 A in diameter and were devoid of apolipoprotein (apo) E, but high in apo A-1. The third peak (P3) eluted with 290 mM NaCl represented 4.3% of total HDL-C and 6.0% of total HDL protein, and contained apo E (25% of its protein). The average size of the particles was 126 Å. The last peak (P4) eluted at 0.6 M NaCl accounted for 18% of total HDL-C and 12% of HDL protein. The particles of P4 were considerably larger in size (156 Å) relative to those of P2 and P3, and rich in apo E (73% of its protein) with relatively low concentrations of apo A-1 and C. Based on the compositional characteristics and sizes of the particles, the HDL subclasses of P2, P3 and P4 were designated as HDL 2 with no apo E, HDL 2 with moderate apo E, and HDL 1 (or HDL c), respectively. The above results provide evidence for the existence of 3 compositionally distinct subclasses of plasma HDL in the rat, which may differ with regard to their roles in the transport and metabolism of cholesterol.

Structural modifications of rat serum high density lipoprotein by pancreatic phospholipase A2.

An important and unusual aspect of the high density lipoprotein (HDL) in the rat is its tendency to undergo marked alterations in structure in response to physiological perturbations. In this study, the role of the surface lipids for maintenance of HDL integrity were investigated. Hydrolysis by pancreatic phospholipase A2 of the phospholipids of rat HDL in the presence of the d greater than 1.21 g/ml fraction of rat serum results in an increase in the particle diameter and an uptake of apo-E and apo A-IV from the lipoprotein-free fraction; augmentation of the albumin concentration in the incubation mixture intensified the observed changes, probably due to enhancement of the compositional changes brought about by phospholipase treatment. Phospholipase A2, treatment of the d less than 1.21 g/ml fraction of rat serum produces only minor changes in the properties of the isolated HDL. These data suggest that changes in apoprotein content reflect an uptake of A-IV and E by the rat HDL, rather than a net loss of apo A-I. Likewise, titration of the action of pancreatic phospholipase A2 on HDL apoprotein composition showed that initially a modest increase in apo A-IV content occurred, but with more extensive phospholipolysis there was a considerably greater increase in the apo-E content of the particle. The data suggest that hydrolysis of phospholipids such as occurs physiologically through the action of lecithin:cholesterol acyl transferase and hepatic lipase may alter the HDL structure independently from changes effected in the neutral lipid core.

Regulation of the selective uptake of high density lipoprotein-associated cholesteryl esters

We have previously shown in rats that the cholesteryl ester component of high density lipoproteins (HDL) is taken up at a greater fractional rate than is the apolipoprotein A-I component (selective uptake) by liver and steroidogenic tissues. Selective uptake was also exhibited by cultured cells from these organs as well as by a wider range of cells in vitro (e.g., rat and human fibroblasts). We report here regulation of this pathway according to the cholesterol status of cells. Uptake of HDL cholesteryl esters by rat fibroblasts was decreased by prior loading of the cells with cholesterol, even while uptake of HDL-associated apoA-I actually increased. At high levels of cholesterol, the two were taken up about in parallel, i.e., selective uptake was suppressed. A similar regulation of selective uptake in primary rat hepatocytes in culture was not observed. To examine regulation of selective uptake in vivo, hypocholesterolemia was induced in rats using either 4-aminopyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine or 17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol. Rat HDL, doubly labeled in both the apoprotein A-I and cholesteryl ester moieties with intracellularly trapped tracers, were injected into untreated and treated rats. The plasma decay kinetics and the tissue sites of uptake were then determined. Hypocholesterolemia increased the plasma fractional catabolic rates of both tracers. Selective uptake was observed in tissues of treated rats that did not exhibit selective uptake in untreated rats (muscle, adipose tissue, and skin). Similarly, hypocholesterolemia increased the contribution of selective uptake to total HDL cholesteryl ester uptake by adrenal and ovary. In contrast, regulation of selective uptake by liver could not be demonstrated under these conditions. Thus, selective uptake of HDL cholesteryl esters can be regulated in extrahepatic tissues of rats in vivo and in vitro, suggesting a role for selective uptake in the maintenance of cholesterol homeostasis in these tissues.

Effect of 17α-ethinylestradiol on the catabolism of high-density lipoprotein apolipoprotein A-I in the rat

The in vivo metabolism and tissue sites of catabolism of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), labelled specifically in the apolipoprotein (apo) A-I moiety, were studied in rats treated with 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE) for 5 days. Apo A-I was labelled either with O-(4-diazo-3-[ 125I]iodobenzoyl)sucrose, a non-degradable labelling compound; or with 131ICI. It was found that EE treatment decreases the serum cholesterol concentration to 10 mg/dl and stimulates the serum decay of apo A-I labelled HDL. The latter effect could be attributed to an increased catabolism of apo A-I labelled HDL in the liver. The increased rates of the serum decay and tissue uptake of apo A-I labelled HDL in EE-treated rats were not affected by a bolus injection of unlabelled human low-density lipoprotein (LDL), administered at the time of the injection of the labelled HDL. When the serum cholesterol concentration was raised to physiological levels by a bolus injection of unlabelled rat HDL, both the serum decay and the tissue uptake of apo A-I labelled HDL were almost completely restored to conditions encountered in control animals. In vitro binding experiments showed that liver membranes obtained from EE-treated rats demonstrated a 6-fold increased specific binding of human 125I-LDL, but virtually unchanged specific binding of rat 125I-HDL, as compared with liver membranes obtained from control rats. It is concluded that rat HDL apo A-I catabolism is hardly mediated by the apo B/E receptor induced by EE treatment.

HDL clearance and receptor-mediated catabolism of LDL are reduced in hypothyroid rats

Hypercholesterolemia associated with hypothyroidism is due partly to increased plasma LDL and partly to increased HDL cholesterol concentrations. The increase in LDL cholesterol has been shown to be secondary to reduced plasma clearance of LDL. To determine which catabolic route was thyroid dependent, the present study examined the effects of hypothyroidism on the receptor-mediated pathway and the ‘receptor-independent’ pathway of LDL metabolism. Wistar rats (327 ± 22 g; mean ± SD) were made hypothyroid by feeding propylthiouracil (0.1%, w/w) and rat 131I-LDL (rLDL; d = 1.019−1.050) and 125I-methylated-LDL (rLDL-CH 3) were simultaneously injected i.v. after which the rates of clearance of labelled LDL in plasma were determined over 0–54 h. Total LDL and ‘receptor-independent’ clearances were represented by clearance of 131I-rLDL and 125I-rLDL-CH 3 respectively and the difference between the two represented high affinity receptor-mediated clearance. The data were analyzed using Matthews' model and the fractional catabolic rates (FCR) were calculated. The FCR of rLDL clearance via the receptor-mediated pathway was 0.1042 ± 0.0112 pools/h (n = 6) in controls vs. 0.0613 ± 0.0079 pools/h (n = 6) in hypothyroid animals ( P < 0.01). The FCR via the ‘receptor-independent’ pathway was 0.0642 ± 0.0040 pools/h (n = 6) in controls vs. 0.0561 ± 0.0036 pools/h (n = 6) in hypothyroid animals (not significant). The plasma HDL cholesterol concentration was also increased in hypothyroid rats (70.4 ± 6.7 mg/dl) compared to control (53.3 ± 3.1 mg/dl) ( P < 0.025). The plasma clearance rate of rat high-density lipoprotein (rHDL, d = 1.125−1.210) was also observed to be reduced in hypothyroid group (0.0441 ± 0.0010 pools/h; n = 4) compared to controls (0.0564 ± 0.0034 pools/h; n = 4) ( P < 0.05) but the difference was less pronounced than that observed for rLDL. The activity distribution ratio (ADR), which measures the ratio of extravascular to intravascular lipoprotein pools, was calculated from the clearance data. ADR of native LDL in control rats was higher than hypothyroid rats and correlated with increased plasma LDL observed in the latter. In contrast, the ADR of methylated LDL was <1.0 for both groups of rats amd may be due to a lack of interaction of rLDL-CH 3 with the endothelial high-affinity LDL receptors. These data indicate that thyroid hormone plays an essential regulatory role in catabolism of both LDL and HDL. We further postulate that the extravascular distribution of LDL may be regulated by high-affinity receptor binding of LDL.

Effect of apoE on triglyceride emulsion interaction with hepatocyte and hepatoma G2 cells.

The uptake and internalization of a triglyceride emulsion by rat hepatocytes in culture less than 24 hr was either inhibited or uninfluenced by apoE. ApoE significantly increased the uptake of these emulsions in later cultures. Specific low density lipoprotein (LDL) binding was similar for hepatocyte monolayers prior to and after 24 hr. Rat hepatocytes in culture for 2 days, which were treated with collagenase, detached and then replated within 1 hr and were apoE-responsive in 2 hr. Heparin inhibited the apoE stimulation in both hepatocytes and hepatoma monolayers. Heparin wash of hepatocytes or hepatoma cells incubated with apoE-[14C]triolein emulsions at 4 degrees C resulted in a considerable loss in radiolabeled cell lipid. A similar wash after 37 degrees C incubations produced little loss suggesting internalization. Hepatocytes had lower affinity but similar apoE-emulsion binding capacity compared to hepatoma cells. Triolein emulsions with apoE were significantly more rapidly metabolized by the hepatocyte than unsupplemented emulsions. The apoE-mediated hepatocyte lipid uptake was inhibited by apoC proteins. High molar ratios of free fatty acid/albumin also suppressed hepatocyte apoE-mediated lipid uptake. Both rat high density lipoprotein (HDL) and LDL inhibited with a potency directly related to their content of apoE. Human LDL and HDL without apoE also inhibited the interaction with less potency than the rat lipoproteins. Human HDL inhibition was diminished after removal of apoC proteins.

Effect of infusion of "tris-galactosyl-cholesterol" on plasma cholesterol, clearance of lipoprotein cholesteryl esters, and biliary secretion in the rat.

As shown by us previously (van Berkel et al. 1985. J. Biol. Chem. 260: 2694-2699 and van Berkel et al. 1985. J. Biol. Chem. 260: 12203-12207) the clearance of both low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL) from the blood can be greatly enhanced by pretreatment of these lipoproteins with a tris-galactosylated cholesterol derivative, which makes these particles recognizable by hepatic galactosyl-receptors. Here we report that intravenous infusion of the (water-soluble) tris-galactosyl-cholesterol in rats caused a dose-dependent decrease of the plasma cholesterol level. This fall was sustained long after termination of the infusion. It was not observed upon infusion of tris-glucosyl-cholesterol. The fall in plasma cholesterol was accompanied by an increase in hepatic cholesterol. Upon injection of rat HDL and LDL labeled in their cholesteryl ester moieties, plasma clearance of label in both lipoproteins was enhanced in rats infused with tris-galactosyl-cholesterol, the stimulation being more pronounced when the label was in HDL. The appearance of label in bile was also enhanced in the rats receiving the compound, again more markedly when the label was given as HDL. Ninety four percent or more of the radioactivity excreted in the bile was in the form of bile salts, with conjugated cholate being the major species in both control and treated rats; 6% or less of the radioactivity in the bile was as free cholesterol. Infusion of tris-galactosyl-cholesterol constitutes a new and defined method of lowering plasma lipoprotein levels by enhancing their uptake in the liver.

Lipoprotein catabolism in rats with portacaval anastomosis on various diets

The catabolism of lipoproteins was measured in rats with a portacaval anastomosis and in intact control rats. Radioiodinated rat high density lipoproteins or human low density lipoproteins, the major cholesterol-bearing lipoproteins in rat or man respectively, were injected intravenously into rats. More than 90% of trace amounts of these lipoproteins were removed from plasma of rats with portacaval anastomosis and controls on standard chow at closely similar rates within 24 h. Also, [1251]high density lipoproteins left the plasma at comparable rates in controls and rats with portacaval anastomosis, whether fed with a cholesterol-free chow or a carbohydrate-rich lard chow. These dietary regimens were employed to avoid artifacts through a different development of the body weight in operated and control rats. A standard laboratory chow ad libitum led to weight loss in rats with portacaval anastomosis. Pair-fed with a cholesterol-free chow both groups of rats kept the same weight, but only with a carbohydrate-rich lard chow could the natural weight gain be achieved. In all rats with portacaval anastomosis liver weights were reduced and serum cholesterol decreased by 21–31% with the major change in high density lipoproteins. The findings suggest that cholesterol concentrations are not likely to be lowered in rats with portacaval anastomosis by enhanced lipoprotein catabolism.

Acute-phase high-density lipoprotein in the rat does not contain serum amyloid A protein

Serum amyloid A protein (SAA) is an acute-phase apolipoprotein of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Its N-terminal sequence is identical with that of amyloid A protein (AA), the subunit of AA amyloid fibrils. However, rats do not develop AA amyloidosis, and we report here that neither normal nor acute-phase rat HDL contains a protein corresponding to SAA of other species. mRNA coding for a sequence homologous with the C-terminal but not with the N-terminal part of human SAA is synthesized in greatly increased amounts in acute-phase rat liver. These observations indicate that the failure of rats to develop AA amyloid results from the absence of most of the AA-like part of their SAA-like protein, and that the N-terminal portion of SAA probably contains the lipid-binding sequences.

Synthetic high density lipoprotein particles. Application to studies of the apoprotein specificity for selective uptake of cholesterol esters.

Particles closely resembling rat high density lipoproteins (HDL) in terms of equilibrium density profile and particle size were prepared by sonication of apoA-I with a microemulsion made with egg lecithin and cholesterol oleate. These particles, like authentic HDL, allowed selective uptake of their cholesterol ester moieties by cultured cells without parallel uptake of the particle itself. That uptake was saturable and competed by HDL. In rats, the plasma decay kinetics and sites of uptake of a cholesteryl ether tracer were similar whether that tracer was incorporated into synthetic or authentic HDL. Synthetic particles containing other apoproteins were made by generally the same method, but using in place of apoA-I either a mixture of rat apoCs or apoE that was either competent or reductively methylated to prevent interaction with the B/E receptor. These particles, of lower density and larger Stokes radius than those made with apoA-I, also allowed selective uptake of cholesterol esters, albeit with a lower degree of selectivity than in the case of apoA-I. Thus a specific apoprotein component in the subject lipoprotein particle is not required for selective uptake. However, selective uptake was shown to be a function of particle density or size, and part of the difference in rates of selective uptake from the particles made with various apoproteins was explained by their differences in density or size.

Apolipoprotein A-IV. A determinant for binding and uptake of high density lipoproteins by rat hepatocytes.

To identify the role of a specific apoprotein other than apoE which might be responsible for the receptor-mediated uptake of high density lipoprotein (HDL) by rat hepatocytes, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) was combined with rat apoE, apoA-I, or apoA-IV to form apoprotein-phospholipid complexes and the complexes were tested for their binding and uptake by primary rat hepatocytes. Apoprotein-POPC complexes were labeled with the specific fluorescent probe, 1,1-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine to monitor their uptake by cultured rat hepatocytes at 37 degrees C using digital fluorescence imaging microscopy or were labeled with 125I to study their binding to hepatocytes at 4 degrees C. POPC, either alone or with apoA-I, was not internalized by rat hepatocytes while complexes containing apoE or apoA-IV were taken up by the cells. Specific binding at 4 degrees C was demonstrated for apoE-free HDL, apoA-IV X POPC, and apoE X POPC but not for apoA-I X POPC. The binding of apoE-free HDL was inhibited by apoA-IV X POPC, apoE-free HDL, and apoA-IV + apoA-I X POPC but not by apoA-I X POPC. Binding of apoA-IV X POPC was inhibited by apoE-free HDL, apoA-IV X POPC, and apoA-IV + apoA-I X POPC, but not by apoE X POPC or apoE-enriched HDL. These data indicate that apoA-IV is a ligand responsible for the rat HDL binding to primary rat hepatocytes and that apoA-IV binds to a receptor site distinct from apoE-dependent receptors such as the apoB,E or chylomicron-remnant receptor.

Inhibition of human and rat lipoprotein lipase by high-density lipoprotein

The hydrolysis in vitro of preactivated Intralipid (an artificial triacylglycerol-phospholipid emulsion) by rat adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase is inhibited by rat high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The aim of this work was to investigate whether human lipoprotein lipase was also inhibited, the mechanism of inhibition of the rat enzyme by HDL, and the role of the various individual apolipoproteins. Both human and rat lipoprotein lipase from post-heparin plasma are inhibited by HDL. This inhibition is considerably decreased if the HDL is first made ‘apolipoprotein poor’ by removal of some transferable apolipoproteins. In contrast, both native and apolipoprotein poor HDL inhibit the hydrolysis of Intralipid by rat hepatic lipase. Apolipoproteins C and E, either free in solution or attached to lipid vesicles, inhibit the hydrolysis of activated Intralipid by rat lipoprotein lipase to a maximum of 85% and 50%, respectively. Apolipoprotein A attached to vesicles gives little inhibition. HDL apolipoprotein and apolipoprotein C compete with the substrate for binding to lipoprotein lipase with apolipoprotein C having a higher affinity for the enzyme than HDL apolipoprotein. The inhibition of lipoprotein lipase by HDL can be explained by the association of the constituent apolipoproteins, in particular apolipoprotein C, with the enzyme so that there is less enzyme available to act on substrate.

Effects of castration and testosterone administration on serum lipoproteins and their apoproteins in male spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Serum triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) concentrations were higher in male spontaneously hypertensive rat than in male control Wistar Kyoto rat, whereas serum cholesterol, phospholipids, and high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentrations were lower. Castration of hypertensive rats induced an increase in serum cholesterol, phospholipids, and HDL, and a decrease in serum triglyceride and VLDL. The cholesterol content of HDL increased, whereas the triglycerides decreased after gonadectomy of hypertensive rats. These changes in serum lipids and lipoproteins could be reversed by the administration of testosterone. Apolipoprotein E contents in VLDL and HDL of hypertensive rats were low when compared with control rats but rose after castration and could be reduced by testosterone administration. Hypertensive rats accumulated triglycerides and cholesterol in the liver, which resulted in an increase of liver weight. Castration reduced the hepatic lipids as well as liver weight. The effects of castration and testosterone treatment on lipids and lipoproteins were more prominent in spontaneously hypertensive rats than in control rats. These results suggest that testosterone reduces VLDL catabolism which is related to changes of apolipoprotein composition, and that hypertensive rats are more sensitive to testosterone than control rats.