Sex Difference in Induction of Periportal Fatty Liver by Methionine Deficiency in the Rat.

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Force-feeding of purified choline-containing diets devoid of methionine for 3 to 6 days induces fatty liver in adult female rats, but not in adult male rats. Excess lipid accumulates in the periportal region of liver lobule. Force-feeding of threonine-devoid diet for 3 days to adult rats also induces periportal fatty liver but without a sex difference. Occurrence of the same sex difference and the same lobular distribution of fat in the liver by force-feeding methionine devoid diets and by injection of ethionine suggests that ethionine exerts some of its effects through interfering with the metabolic role of methionine. Since choline does not protect liver against the effects of methionine deficiency, methionine must play some role in regulation of lipid content of liver aside from its contribution of methyl groups for synthesis of choline. This role of methionine may be related to the action of androgens.