Influence of Age on in Vitro Lipid Biosynthesis and Enzymatic Activity in Pig Adipose Tissue 1

Summary

Lipogenesis, as measured by the incorporation of glucose-U-¹⁴C into fatty acids by adipose tissue slices was determined periodically in 8 pigs from the age of 35 days (9.0 kg) to 180 days (90.0 kg). In the suckling pig, the capacity for fatty acid synthesis was very low, presumably due to the high-fat content of sow milk. Upon ingestion of the high-carbohydrate diet, fatty acid synthesis increased rapidly and reached a peak at 67 days of age. From 67 days of age there was a gradual decrease in the capacity for fatty acid synthesis with advancing age. Changes in the activities of citrate-cleavage enzyme and malic enzyme occurred in parallel with the changes in fatty acid synthesis, supporting the participation of these enzymes in lipogenesis in pig adipose tissue.