Studies on the Metabolism of Glycerol by Hyperlipemic and Normolipemic Rats

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Abstract
The metabolism of glycerol was studied in BHE and Wistar rats using measures of transhepatic glycerol disposal, assays of glycerol and glycerol metabolites in frozen clamped hepatic tissue, and through the study of mitochondrial .alpha.-glycerophosphate shuttle activity and .alpha.-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity. Strain differences in glycerol metabolism were observed, with the BHE rats having higher serum glycerol levels, lower presumed glycerolkinase activity, lower .alpha.-glycerophosphate shuttle activity and lower mitochondrial .alpha.-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity. These findings were presumed to indicate a lack of coordination between the cellular compartments, explaining the previously reported enhanced hepatic lipogenesis seen in BHE rats.