EFFECT OF INTESTINAL CHYLOMICRON SECRETORY BLOCKADE ON APOLIPOPROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN THE NEWBORN PIGLET

Pluronic L-81 is a hydrophobic surfactant which blocks intestinal chylomicron secretion at the pre-Golgi level without affecting triacylglycerol uptake and re-esterification. To study the effects of such blockade on apolipoprotein synthesis, newborn female piglets received 24 h intraduodenal infusions of low-triacylglycerol, or high-triacylglycerol with or without Pluronic L-81, diets, followed by determination of apolipoprotein (apo) B-48, A-I and A-IV synthesis and content and apo B and A-IV mRNA levels in the small intestine. Jejunal apo B-48 content, synthesis and mRNA levels were down-regulated below basal levels by the addition of Pluronic to the high-triacylglycerol infusion. The normal increase in apo A-I synthesis induced by triacylglycerol absorption was ablated in both jeunum and ileum, even though the expected increase in apo A-I content in jejunum still occurred. Although attenuated, the expected increase in jejunal apo A-IV synthesis and mRNA levels with triacylglycerol absorption was still present with Pluronic treatment. These results suggest very different mechanisms of cellular regulation and trafficking for the various apolipoproteins incorporated into nascent intestinal chylomicrons. Apo B may be specifically down-regulated by the chylomicron secretory blockade induced by Pluronic L-81.