Alteration in liver lipid and lipid fatty acid composition after partial hepatectomy in the rat

Partial hepatectomy in the rat produced a fatty liver that attained a maximum lipid accumulation 18–24 hours following the operation and subsequently reached sham-operated control levels within 72 hours. The increase was principally in the neutral lipid fraction, while the hepatic phospholipid content was essentially unchanged. Fatty acid analysis of hepatic lipids and serum free fatty acids demonstrated an increase of oleic and linoleic acids in animals given a subtotal hepatectomy. Also, serum free fatty acid levels were consistently higher in the experimental animals. These results suggest that adipose tissue fat is the source of the fatty acids incorporated into hepatic lipids following a partial hepatectomy. Ergotamine, 3,5-dimethylpryazole, and nicotinic acid, when given at the time of the operation, were effective in significantly reducing the accumulation of liver lipid after a partial hepatectomy.