Adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and triglyceride uptake in zucker rats

To investigate the relationship between elevated adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and triglyceride uptake in Zucker obese rats, fed and 12 hour fasted female obese and lean Zucker rats were given intrajugular infusion of radio-labelled triglyceride and label clearance and uptake were examined over 35 minutes. In the fed state, obese rats showed more rapid clearance of the label from the bloodstream and, in both fed and fasted states, greater uptake into retroperitoneal and parametrical fat pads than lean rats. Obese rats showed proportionally less uptake into heart and liver. Regardless of feeding condition, obese rats exhibited elevations in adipose tissue LPL, which was significantly correlated with label uptake in adipose tissue. These results show that, in Zucker obese rats, elevated adipose tissue LPL is associated with increased adipose tissue triglyceride uptake. A preferential "shunting of calories" into adipose tissue, which is presumably mediated by LPL, could underlie the intractability of the Zucker obesity syndrome as well as the altered feeding behavior of Zucker obese rats.