STEAROYL-COA DESATURASE - CONTROL ENZYME IN HEPATIC LIPOGENESIS

Hepatocytes were isolated by perfusion of the liver with collagenase/salt solutions and incubated in culture after attachment to plastic culture dishes for periods up to 48 h. The cells, when incubated in serum‐free culture medium in the presence of insulin, showed enhanced stearoyl‐CoA desaturase activity which was not observed when 50 uM cycloheximide was included. When insulin was omitted from the medium, the cells lost 80% of their original desaturase activity. Cells isolated from animals fed 20% (w/w) sucrose for two weeks prior to sacrifice, showed high levels of fatty acid synthesis, stearoyl‐CoA desaturase activity and triacylglycerol synthesis when compared with cells isolated from animals fed a corn oil supplemented diet. The observations are discussed in terms of the influence of stearoyl‐CoA desaturase activity on hepatic lipogenesis. Copyright © 1979, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved