Influence of meal frequency on in vivo hepatic fatty acid synthesis, lipogenic enzyme activity, and glucose tolerance in the chicken
Muiruri, K.L.; Romsos, D.R.; Leveille, G.A.
Journal of Nutrition 105(8): 963-971
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 1142014 Document Number: 89568
Chickens weighing initially 900 or 600 g were allowed access to feed for 2 h/day (meal-fed) or were fed to appetite. They were given 3H2O by vein and the incorporation of 3H into fatty acids was used to estimate rates of fatty acid synthesis in vivo. Allowing the meal-fed chickens access to a meal increased rate of fatty acid synthesis in the liver 50-fold. Activities of malic enzyme and fatty acid synthetase in liver were similar before and after the meal. The rate of fatty acid synthesis was greater in the fed meal-eater than in the chicken fed to appetite. Plasma free fatty acids fell and triglycerides rose when the meal-eater was fed. After 17 or 24 h without food both groups were given 7 g glucose/kg bodyweight by mouth or 700 mg/kg by vein. Meal feeding did not impair glucose tolerance as has been reported in meal-fed man. Intravenous glucose tolerance was not greatly influenced by meal pattern in the chicken, unlike that in the rat. Oral glucose tolerance was improved in 1 of 2 experiments as a consequence of meal-eating.