Effect of Estrogen on Adipose Tissue Accumulation in Chicks, with Reference to Changes in Triglyceride Synthesis and Fatty acid Oxidation

Abstract

Triglyceride synthesis and fatty acid oxidation in chick adipose tissue were studied by measuring the incorporation of [1-¹⁴C] acetate or [1-¹⁴C] palmitate into triglyceride and CO₂ in vivo and in vitro in order to investigate the effect of estrogen on adipose tissue accumulation in chicks. Estrogen treatment increased the incorporation of ¹⁴C-acetate into total fatty acid and of 14C-palmitate into triglyceride. This result suggests that de novo triglyceride synthesis is stimulated by estrogen. Incorporation of ¹⁴C-palmitate into CO₂ was increased by estrogen treatment, whereas that of 14C-acetate into CO₂ was decreased. This result suggests that fatty acid oxidation is also stimulated by estrogen and implies that β-oxidation of fatty acid may be increased by estrogen.