Adipose tissue in experimental nephrotic syndrome

Abstract

Epididymal adipose tissue of aminonucleoside-treated rats, investigated 3 to 6 days after induction of the nephrotic syndrome, had low glycogen levels and showed impaired esterification of free fatty acids and assimilation of lipoprotein triglyceride and markedly reduced liberation of lipoprotein lipase. These results were found to be influenced by the inadequate food intake of the acutely nephrotic animals and comparable to the values of control rats fasted for 2 days. On return to adequate nutrition, which occurred 12–20 days after aminonucleoside treatment, adipose tissue glycogen and free fatty acid assimilation returned toward normal levels but lipoprotein-lipase liberation remained below normal. In rats rendered nephrotic by antikidney serum, the assimilation of free fatty acids and lipoprotein-triglyceride by adipose tissue was impaired in spite of only minor reduction in food consumption. The results indicate that the defective metabolism of adipose tissue in nephrotic animals may be contributory to the nephrotic hypertriglyceridemia.