Effect of Hypophysectomy on Lipid Metabolism in Pancreatectomized Rats

Abstract

The effect of hypophysectomy on fatty acid synthesis in vivo was examined in liver, adipose tissue and carcass of "totally" pancreatectomized rats by measuring the incorporation of tritium from H32O into fatty acids. Hypophysectomy increased fatty acid synthesis in the liver of untreated pancreatectomized rats but the increment was only 1/5 of that seen in rats treated with insulin. Hypophysectomy had no effect on fatty acid synthesis in the carcass or adipose tissue of untreated pancreatectomized rats. The plasma concentrations of FFA, triglycerides, glucose and ketone bodies and the rate of fatty acid release by adipose tissue (measured in vitro) were high in pancreatectomized rats given food without insulin. Hypophysectomy had no effect in such animals on plasma FFA, triglycerides and glucose, but it inhibited fatty acid release and prevented the development of ketosis.