High density lipoprotein catabolism in primary cultured hepatocytes from daunomycin-induced nephrotic rats

We investigated into HDL (high density lipoprotein) catabolism with primary cultured hepatocytes to elucidate the causes of increased HDL apolipoproteins in the plasma of daunomycin-induced nephrotic rats (D rats). The phospholipid, triglyceride, cholesterol, cholesteryl ester and apolipoprotein contents in HDL increased in D rats compared with control rats (C rats). The uptake (binding plus internalization) of (125)I-HDL from D rats to two groups of hepatocytes was significantly greater than that of (125)I-HDL from C rats. Uptake of (125)I-HDL from D rats to D rats' hepatocytes was significantly greater than that of (125)I-HDL from C rats to C rats' hepatocytes. The degradation of (125)I-HDL from D rats was greater than that of (125)I-HDL from C rats using two groups of hepatocytes. These results demonstrated that the uptake and degradation of HDL to D rats' hepatocytes were greater than those of HDL to C rats' hepatocytes. The increased HDL apolipoprotein content in the plasma of D rats may not be due to decreased uptake and degradation of HDL in hepatocytes compared with C rats.