The effect of compensatory growth on lipogenesis in ovine carcass adipose tissue

Abstract

Rates of lipogenesis, as measured by the incorporation in vitvo of [14C]acetate into fatty acids, were measured in wethers which were either fed continuously or subjected to an interval of starvation. Refeeding ad libitum of starved sheep resulted in a faster growth rate; immature sheep after 110 days and mature sheep after 56 days had reached a fat content similar to that in the continuously grown sheep. In continuously grown sheep the rate of lipogenesis in subcutaneous adipose tissue increased with increasing liveweight. Lipogenesis was almost totally eliminated after a period of weight loss. In nutritionally rehabilitated immature and mature sheep, lipogenesis was restored and reached a rate higher than that measured for sheep which were continuously grown on the same diet. In immature sheep lipogenesis responded rapidly to refeeding. However, lipogenesis in mature sheep was slower to respond to increased dietary intake, which indicated that in mature sheep the biochemical pathways of lipid metabolism take several days to respond and reach their full lipogenic potential in response to changes in the physiological state.