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Characterization of the Lactation-Dependent Fatty Liver in myo-Inositol Deficient Rats¹

Department of Biochemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824

The characteristics of the lipid deposited during lactation-dependent fatty liver development in myo-inositol-deficient rats were studied. After only 4 days of lactation, cholesterol esters and triglyceride levels were significantly elevated, whereas liver phospholipid levels were significantly depressed in the livers of myo-inositol deficient dams compared with rats fed myo-inositol supplemented diets. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of numerous large intracellular lipid droplets in the livers of dams deprived of myo-inositol after 14 days of lactation. Plasma lipoprotein lipid levels were depressed for myo-inositol deprived dams during lactation, suggesting a block in hepatic lipoprotein secretion. In addition, elevation of the plasma lipid levels after the onset of mammary involution emphasized the role that lactation and associated hormonal changes may play in the development of this fatty liver. Though not significantly different, elevation of the mean concentration of plasma free fatty acids in myo-inositol deficient dams above that of the myo-inositol supplemented dams was also observed during lactation. The contribution of these factors to the development of lactation-induced fatty liver in myo-inositol deficient rats is discussed. In phthalylsulfathiazole containing diets, more than 0.05% myo-inositol was required to maintain the liver total lipid levels below 7% by weight after 14 days of lactation. No differences in lipid composition were observed in kidney and intestinal tissues from 21-day lactating dams fed the myo-inositol deficient or control diets.

KEY WORDS: • myo-inositol deprivation • lactation • fatty liver • triglyceride • cholesterol • cholesterol ester • phospholipids • lipoproteins

¹ This work was supported by Grant HD06007, U.S. Public Health Service, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Article #7947.

² Present address: Department of Neurobiology, Stanford Medical School, Stanford, California 94305.

³ To whom inquiries should be addressed.

Manuscript received 21 February 1977.