Effect of dietary cholesterol on production of lipoproteins and apolipoproteins by perfused livers from Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata)

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Abstract
Isolated livers from Japanese monkeys were perfused for the purpose of characterizing low density lipoprotein (LDL) secreted directly by the liver, and for determining whether cholesterol feeding affects the hepatic production of LDL. Perfusate containing [3H]leucine was recirculated for 60 min, followed by perfusion with fresh perfusate for two additional 2‐h periods. Radiolabelled lipoproteins, which are isolated by ultracentrifugation as very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), LDL, and high density lipoprotein were 0·87 ± 0·74, 1·83 ± 1·47, and 0·44 ± 0·33%, respectively, of total radiolabelled protein in the medium of the last 2‐h period. Subfractionation of perfusate LDL by high performance liquid chromatography, and by concanavalin A sepharose chromatography, revealed that the newly synthesized LDL were secreted as apo E‐rich particles. Cholesterol feeding resulted in a fourfold increase in hepatic secretion of newly synthesized VLDL, but not of the LDL. The distribution of radioactivity among VLDL apolipoproteins was not affected by cholesterol feeding. Incorporation of radioactivity into apo B100 of LDL decreased significantly, but that into apo E did not change. These results suggested that (i) the elevation of serum LDL in cholesterol‐fed monkeys is not due to enhanced hepatic production of LDL, but probably results from intravascular metabolism of VLDL, which is of hepatic origin, and (ii) cholesterol feeding affects the hepatic apo B100 synthesis and/or release but not apo E.