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Effects of Sucrose versus Fat as Energy Source in the Diet on Rat Liver Polysome Patterns¹

Biochemistry Section, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104

In these experiments, two diets, containing sucrose or lard as the primary energy source, were compared as to their influence on 1) the distribution of ribosomal RNA between free and bound polysomes and 2) polysome profiles of the liver postmitochondrial supernatants. In the livers of rats which had been fed the two diets continuously for several months no differences were found between free versus membrane-bound RNA or between the polysome profiles. However, in rats first starved and then refed, marked differences were found between rats refed sucrose diet and fat diet. With respect to free ribosomes, almost none were found in the livers of rats refed a sucrose diet for 24 hours, whereas rats refed fat diet were "normal" in their free ribosomal content. With respect to polysomal patterns, livers of rats refed the sucrose diet for 24 hours showed a great increase in large aggregates as compared to essentially none in the profiles from the livers of fasted rats. The polysomal profiles from livers of rats refed the fat diet for 24 hours showed a marked increase in di-, tri- and tetrasomal aggregates, but no large aggregate accumulation. After 48 hours of refeeding the differences were less conspicuous, and with continuous feeding were nonexistent. Thus it appears that available energy whatever the source will return the profile to normal if sufficient time is allowed.

KEY WORDS: • starvation • sucrose • fat • polysomes • RNA

¹ Supported in part by National Institutes of Health Grant HE-12138 and GRS RR-05538.

² Charles Cook held an AMA Goldberger Fellowship for medical students during his participation in this investigation.

Manuscript received 5 July 1972.