Transfer of cholesterol and diacylglycerol from lipophorin to Bombyx mori ovarioles in vitro: role of the lipid transfer particle

The objective of this study was to characterize the transfer of diacylglycerol (DAG) and cholesterol from larval Bombyx mori lipophorin to ovarioles. Transfer studies were carried out by incubating pupal ovarioles (5-day) with [ 3H]-cholesterol and [ 3H]-DAG-labeled lipophorin under different conditions. Transfer of both cholesterol and DAG exhibited hyperbolic dependency on lipophorin concentration with apparent Km values of 0.83 ± 0.17 mg/ml and 0.74 ± 0.16 mg/ml, respectively. Pretreatment of ovarioles with anti-lipid transfer particle (LTP) IgG significantly inhibited transfer of labeled DAG to ovarioles (75%) and not cholesterol. Injection of B. mori pupae (day 4) with anti-LTP IgG significantly affected the weight (65%), number of eggs (49%), amount of lipid (74%), and protein (65%) of the adult ovaries. Matured eggs had a very faint yellow color and deformed shape compared to controls. The inhibitory effect demonstrates the active role LTP plays in growth of ovaries, development, and oogenesis. The effect on vitellogenin shortage on egg development and maturation was determined by implanting ovaries in male recipients that lack vitellogenin. An 80% decline in egg production was observed. However, the mature eggs were normal in shape, color, and lipid content. Thus, restricting lipid or protein delivery to developing ovaries would dramatically affect choriogenesis.