The significance of adipost tissue and liver as sites of lipid biosynthesis in the turkey

A study was conducted to determine the significance of adipose tissue and liver as sites of lipid biosynthesis in the turkey. Seven-week-old turkey males were injected intravenously with either acetate-U-14C or glucose-U-14C. Ten, 30, 60, and 120 minutes after injection, adipose tissue, liver and plasma samples were taken. Total lipids were extracted from these samples and 14C incorporation into the lipids was determined. Acetate-U-14C incorporation into liver lipid was 516.2, 493.2, 382.7 and 364.7 x 103 d.p.m./gm. lipid as compared to 2.7, 2.9, 3.1 and 1.3 x 103 d.p.m./gm. lipid for adipose tissue after 10, 30, 60 and 120 minutes, respectively. The incorporation of glucose-U-14C into liver lipid was 27.4, 63.4, 157.8 and 243.6 x 103 d.p.m./gm. lipid after 10, 30, 60 and 120 minutes, respectively; whereas glucose-U14C incorporation into adipose tissur was 1.1, 1.3, 3.1 and 5.9 x 103 d.p.m./gm. lipid after the same time intervals. The results of this study showed the liver is the primary site of lipid biosynthesis and acetate was converted into lipid more rapidly than glucose.