The skeleton, an important site of lipogenesis in the chick

Studies in vitro and in vivo with chicks using 14C-1-acetate have shown that the bone could be an important site of lipogenesis. The in vitro relative activities of various bones in incorporating 14C into fatty acids varied from one tenth to one third of hepatic activity. The bone marrow activity attained about two thirds that of the liver. In vitro and in vivo activities of bones were highly correlated (r = 0.902). The activity of compact parietal bones was the lowest. Estimates of lipogenesis in vivo in various tissues (% of total incorporation) were as follows: liver, 45; skeleton, 23; skin and small intestine, 6. Incorporation by muscles, adipose tissue and kidneys were negligible.