Metabolism of ethanol and sorbitol in clofibrate-treated rats

The rates of ethanol and sorbitol removal and the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial redox states of the liver were determined in female rats pretreated with clofibrate (ethyl-α-p-chlorophenoxyiso-butyrate) for 2–15 days. The drug significantly increased the rate of elimination of ethanol even within the first two days. A significant increase in liver mass took place within a week but cannot explain the initial increase in ethanol removal. Although the liver mass was increased by clofibrate, the rate of sorbitol removal was significantly decreased. A decrease in liver sorbitol dehydrogenase activity was also observed. The sum of the removal of ethanol and sorbitol, when they were simultaneously metabolized, was significantly decreased in clofibrate-treated rats as compared with control ones. Sorbitol inhibition of ethanol elimination was increased but ethanol inhibition of sorbitol elimination was abolished by clofibrate administration. Ethanol and sorbitol caused similar changes in cytoplasmic (lactate/pyruvate) and mitochondrial (β-OH-butyrate/acetoacetate) redox states of clofibrate-treated rat liver, as has been earlier observed in livers of control animals.     

Effect of Thioridazine or Chlorpromazine on Increased Hepatic NAD+ Level in Rats Fed Clofibrate,a Hypolipidaemic Drug

The effect of the phenothiazines, thioridazine and chlorpromazine, on the increased hepatic NAD+ level of rats fed clofibrate, a hypolipidaemic drug, has been investigated. Short-term (6 days) addition of phenothiazines to the diet negatively affected diet intake and body-weight gain, but increased liver weight and hepatic NAD+ levels, which was synergistic to clofibrate. The phenothiazines were shown to inhibit hepatic peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation in-vivo, as determined by the increased residual catalase activity. In hepatocytes prepared from clofibrate-fed rats, phenothiazines inhibited not only peroxisomal but also mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation to the same extent. In the hepatocytes, NAD+ was maintained at the high level until the phenothiazine concentration was increased to 0–2 mM. The result suggests that the increase of hepatic NAD+ in rats fed Clofibrate is not related to peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation.     

A subcellular study of the clofibratei-nduced increase in coenzyme a concentration in rat liver

When clofibrate [ethyl 2-(4-chlorophenoxv)-2-methylpropionatel was administered subcutaneously to rats (600 $\text{mg}\text{kg}$ per day for 3 days), the concentration of CoA and its acyl derivatives in the liver increased 2.5-fold. Forty-eight per cent of the total cellular CoA in the clofibrate-treated rat liver and 51 per cent in the control liver was found in the mitochondrial fraction. In order to study the intermediates of CoA synthesis, clofibrate-treated rats were injected with [³H]pantothenate intracardially and killed after 30 min, l or 2hr for determination of the incorporation of radioactivity into CoA and its precursors. The incorporation of pantothenate into CoA after 2 hr was 5.9-fold in the liver and 4.5-fold in the liver mitochondrial fraction as compared with the control values. Measurement of the pantothenate concentration and radioactivity in clofibrate-treated and control rat liver showed that the higher incorporation of [³H]pantothenate into CoA in clofibrate-treated rat liver cannot be the result of a higher specific radioactivity of pantothenate. It is therefore evident that clofibrate affects the CoA concentration by increasing the rate of synthesis, although the rate of CoA degradation is simultaneously decreased, as has been shown previously [9]. The present results indicate that clofibrate increases the total hepatic CoA concentration without affecting the intracellular compartmentation of CoA. The clofibrate-induced increase in the rate of CoA synthesis does not result in differences in the compartmentation of the intermediates of CoA synthesis.     

Effect of clofibrate administration on the esterification and deesterification of steroid hormones by liver and extrahepatic tissues in rats

Treatment of rats with clofibrate markedly stimulated the liver microsomal esterification of estradiol, testosterone, pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and corticosterone by acyl-CoA:steroid acyltransferase. This enzyme catalyzes the esterification of estradiol with long-chain fatty acids in both liver and extrahepatic tissues. In untreated control rats, brain had the highest acyltransferase activity per milligram of microsomal protein for estradiol esterification (3- to 4-fold higher than in the liver). Although, treatment of rats with clofibrate stimulated the esterification of estradiol by 9- to 14-fold in the liver, estradiol esterification in kidney, lung, brain, uterus, fat, and mammary glands was not increased, indicating that liver may be uniquely sensitive to induction of acyl-CoA:estradiol acyltransferase by clofibrate. In additional studies, esterase activity for hydrolysis of the oleoyl ester of estradiol was determined in control and clofibrate-treated rats. Clofibrate administration increased esterase activity by an average of 107% in fat and 70% in liver. The results indicate that treatment of rats with clofibrate stimulates the hepatic formation of highly lipophilic fatty acid esters that can be hydrolyzed in the liver and in extrahepatic tissues to the parent steroid hormone by a clofibrate-inducible esterase.     

Effect of clofibrate feeding on palmitate and branched-chain 2-oxo acid oxidation in rat liver and muscle

Oxidation rates of palmitate (total and antimycin-insensitive), pyruvate, leucine, 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate and 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoate and activities of two mitochondrial marker enzymes (citrate synthase and cytochrome c oxidase) were assayed in liver and muscle homogenates of fed, clofibrate-treated and 18 hr-starved rats. Significant alterations in the clofibrate-treated and the starved rats were predominantly observed in the liver. Clofibrate feeding increased antimycin-insensitive (peroxisomal) and antimycin-sensitive (mitochondrial) palmitate oxidation and 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate and pyruvate oxidation in liver. In muscle, only the activities of citrate synthase and cytochrome c oxidase were slightly decreased. Short starvation increased antimycin-sensitive palmitate and 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate oxidation in liver. The rates of pyruvate and 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoate oxidation were decreased in muscle homogenates. Results suggest that myopathic phenomena observed after chronic clofibrate administration are not related to changes in the capacity of oxidative metabolism of muscle.     

The immediate and long term effects of clofibrate on the metabolism of the perfused rat liver.

A study was made of the immediate effects of CPIB (chlorophenoxy-isobutyrate) and of the effects of clofibrate (ethyl-CPIB) pretreatment on the metabolism of the perfused liver. Both treatments caused an increased hepatic uptake of lactate and free fatty acids. Pretreatment with clofibrate resulted in a decrease in perfusate glucose, an increase in ketogenesis and a decreased output of very low density lipoprotein triacylglycerol. A more oxidized redox state of both the cytosol and the mitochondria was indicated by decreased ratios of perfusate [lactate]/[pyruvate] and [3-hydroxybutyrate]/[acetoacetate] respectively. Increased hepatic O₂ consumption was associated with the increased liver weight of rats treated with the drug for 1 week. The fate of free fatty acids was followed by infusing [1—¹⁴Cloleate. The increased oxidation of oleate to both CO₂ and ketone bodies in livers from animals pretreated with clofibrate was accompanied by a corresponding decreased incorporation of ¹⁴C into very low density lipoprotein triacylglycerol. Lipogenesis was depressed upon addition of CPIB to the perfusate, but was increased after pretreatment with clofibrate. No changes in cholesterol synthesis were detected. A hypothesis to account for the hypolipidaemic and other effects of clofibrate pretreatment is advanced. This is based on a primary enhancement of fatty acid oxidation accompanied by a reciprocal decrease in hepatic triacylglycerol secretion. It is suggested that increased peroxisomal oxidation of fatty acids may be a cause of the decreased redox potential. A consequent activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase would explain both the changes in carbohydrate metabolism and the increase in lipogenesis.     

Tissue-specific effect of clofibrate on rat lipogenic enzyme gene expression

Fibrate derivatives are commonly used to treat hyperlipidaemia; however, the mechanism of the antilipidaemic action of these drugs is still unknown. The effect of clofibrate (fibrate derivative) administration for 14 days on lipogenesis and on malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40) and fatty acid synthase (EC 2.3.1.85) gene expression in brown and white adipose tissues and in the liver was examined in rats. The rate of brown adipose tissue lipogenesis in the clofibrate-treated animals was significantly lower than that of the control rats. The rate of liver and white adipose tissue lipogenesis was not affected significantly by clofibrate. In brown adipose tissue, the drug treatment resulted in a depression of fatty acid synthase and malic enzyme mRNA levels. The fatty acid synthase mRNA level did not change significantly in the liver, whereas the malic enzyme mRNA level increased approximately 6-fold in this organ after clofibrate treatment. The malic enzyme mRNA level in white adipose tissue increased about 2-fold, while the fatty acid synthase mRNA level was unchanged after clofibrate feeding. The results presented in this paper provide further evidence that the hypolipidaemia caused by treatment of rats with clofibrate cannot be related to the inhibition of fatty acid synthesis in the liver and white adipose tissue. These data also indicate that clofibrate exhibits tissue specificity.     

Effect of chronic clofibrate administration on mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation.

The effect of chronic clofibrate administration on fatty acid oxidation by isolated liver and skeletal muscle mitochondria was studied to determine if the hypolipidemic action of clofibrate may be mediated by reducing levels of fatty acyl substrates via enhanced fatty acid oxidation. Oxygen consumption and CO₂ production associated with the oxidation of fatty acids were decreased 30 per cent in liver mitochondria from clofibrate-treated rats. By contrast, CO₂ production from acetate and citric acid cycle intermediates was not significantly affected. This indicates impairment of β-oxidation of fatty acids to the level of acetyl CoA, an interpretation supported by the findings of a decrease in ketone body production. In liver mitochondria, oxygen consumption associated with the oxidation of glutamate, succinate and ascorbate was depressed. The per cent decrease was comparable in the absence or presence of ADP or dinitrophenol, suggesting impairment of the respiratory chain. There was no effect on energy production or utilization, as evidence by unchanged respiratory control, ADP/O ratio, ATP?³²P exchange reaction, and substrate- or ATP-supported Ca²⁺ uptake. Unlike isolated liver mitochondria, there were no effects on oxygen uptake or fatty acid oxidation by muscle mitochondria. It is unlikely that the hypolipidemic effects of clofibrate are mediated by reducing fatty acyl substrate levels via enhanced fatty acid oxidation.     

钝化NF-κB的活化对酒精性肝损伤大鼠CYP3A的影响

目的研究核转录因子-κB(nuclear fastor kappa B,NF-κB)在酒精性肝损伤大鼠模型中的作用及对细胞色素P4503A(cytochrome P450 3A,CYP3A)代谢活力的影响。方法采用白酒灌胃法复制大鼠酒精性肝损伤模型,肝脏组织HE染色和血清中ALT和AST水平测定观测大鼠肝损伤情况,采用免疫组化法检测肝脏NF-κB的蛋白表达,通过HPLC法检测CYP3A的探针药物咪哒唑仑的血浆药物浓度,采用热板法观察大鼠舔足反应来体现咪哒唑仑的代谢情况,从而反映咪哒唑仑特异性代谢酶CYP3A的代谢活力。结果酒精性肝损伤模型组表现为轻度脂肪变性和炎症坏死,NF-κB明显活化,CYP3A代谢活力增强(P<0.05);钝化NF-κB的活化后,肝脏脂肪变性程度明显减轻,CYP3A代谢活力下调(P<0.05)。结论钝化NF-κB活化,可以减轻酒精性肝损伤的程度,并下调酒精性肝损伤导致的CYP3A代谢活性的增强。     

Treatment with pharmacological peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha agonist clofibrate causes upregulation of organic cation transporter 2 in liver and small intestine of rats.

Activation of PPARalpha by clofibrate has recently been shown to cause upregulation of carnitine transporter organic cation transporter (OCTN) 2 and elevated carnitine concentrations in rat liver. The present study has been conducted to further explore the effect of clofibrate on OCTN expression, carnitine biosynthesis, and carnitine accumulation in different rat tissues, and thus two groups of rats were fed diets containing 0.5% clofibrate or 0% clofibrate (control group). PPARalpha-responsive genes were markedly upregulated in the liver (P<0.05), moderately in small intestine, but only slightly in other extrahepatic tissues by clofibrate. Relative mRNA concentration of OCTN2 in liver and small intestine was increased in rats fed clofibrate (P<0.05), whereas in other extrahepatic tissues mRNA concentration of OCTN2 did not differ between treatment groups. Concentration of total carnitine was higher in liver and small intestine but lower in plasma, kidney, and brain of rats fed clofibrate (P<0.05). Moreover, concentration of the carnitine precursor trimethyllysine and mRNA concentrations of specific genes involved in carnitine biosynthesis were increased in livers of rats fed clofibrate (P<0.05). The present study shows that clofibrate causes not only upregulation of OCTN2 in the liver but also in small intestine, and thus suggests that an increased intestinal absorption of carnitine might also contribute to the clofibrate-induced increase in hepatic carnitine concentration. Furthermore, the present results also indicate that an increased carnitine biosynthesis also contributes to the clofibrate-induced increase in hepatic carnitine concentration.     

Different induction of microsomal carboxylesterases, palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase and acyl-L-carnitine hydrolase in rat liver after treatment with clofibrate

The levels of hepatic carboxylesterases, including palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase and decanoyl-D,L-carnitine hydrolase, were studied in total homogenates and subcellular fractions prepared from the livers of male rats fed diets containing 0.3% clofibrate. The microsomal carboxylesterase as well as the fatty acyl-thioesterase are differently induced by clofibrate feeding. The specific activities of acetanilide carboxylesterase and decanoyl-D,L-carnitine hydrolase increased more than 3-fold in the microsomal fraction, compared to pellet-fed control animals. The microsomal activities of palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase and propanidid hydrolase were decreased by about 20 to 40% in clofibrate-treated rats. The specific clofibrate hydrolase activity remained unchanged after clofibrate administration, indicating that this microsomal carboxylesterase is not induced by its own substrate. The data suggest a different distribution of the differing carboxylesterase along the endoplasmic reticulum.     

Impairment of hepatic glutathione S-transferase activity as a cause of reduced biliary sulfobromophthalein excretion in clofibrate-treated rats

Administration of clofibrate reduced the maximal excretion rate of bile sulfobromophthalein (BSP) in rats but left that of phenol-3,6-dibromophthalein (DBSP) unchanged. This decrease in liver transport of BSP was due to reduced bile excretion of conjugated BSP. Hepatic uptake and storage of this dye were not impaired. Liver glutathione S-transferase activity in vitro, measured with BSP, 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene (DCNB) or 1-chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) was significantly reduced. This alteration in liver conjugating activity was probably not related to a modification of the hepatic GSH pool, since the GSH level was unchanged or only increased slightly after clofibrate treatment. Detection of this inhibition required at least two daily doses of clofibrate. Inhibition was dose-related and lasted for several days after cessation of the drug. In clofibrate-treated rats, Lineweaver-Burk plots showed a reduced Vmax for both the BSP and GSH substrates. These results suggest that clofibrate decreases hepatobiliary transport of BSP by lowering glutathione S-transferase activity in the liver.     

Hepatic triglyceride lipases--effect of clofibrate and halofenate.

Liver lipases could be important for regulating hepatic intracellular triglyceride (TG) concentration and, thus, TG secretion. The possibility that the hypotriglyceridemic drugs clofibrate (CPIB) and halofenate (HFA) reduce hepatic net TG synthesis by stimulating hepatic lipases has been investigated in control and orotic acid fed rats. Liver lipase activities were measured at pH 5, 7.5 and 8.5 in liver homogenates from control and drug-treated animals. The acid lipase was particularly sensitive to changes in hepatic TG concentration, increasing when hepatic TG levels were increased by feeding orotic acid and decreasing after treatment with either HFA of CPIB, drugs which lower hepatic TG levels. Both CPIB and HFA prevented the fatty liver produced by orotic acid. Neither drug increased the activity of the hepatic lipases with triolein as substrate (at an enzyme-saturating concentration) and, thus, the abilities of HFA and CPIB to decrease hepatic net TG synthesis and to prevent orotic acid-induced fatty liver are not related to effects on these liver lipases. Rather, they may be related to reducing the availability of fatty acids for de novo TG synthesis. CPIB and HFA produced a 65–75 per cent decrease in plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations and this decrease could be important since circulating free fatty acids are a principal source of the fatty acid needed for hepatic TG synthesis.     

Changes in the rat hepatic mixed function oxidase system associated with chronic ethanol vapor inhalation

Chronic ethanol vapor inhalation by rats increased hepatic microsomal aniline hydroxylase activity, increasing the turnover number and decreasing the K_m. Activity of ethanol-induced microsomes toward other substrates was also examined. The increase in aniline hydroxylase activity as a result of ethanol treatment is attributed to an increase in a form of cytochrome P-450 with a high specific activity toward aniline. Since the ethanol effect on aniline hydroxylation had disappeared 24 hr after treatment was discontinued, a high rate of turnover of this enzyme was deduced. Dimethylsulfoxide (56 mM) produced a reverse type I spectral change in ethanol-induced, but not in control, microsomes. This was interpreted as being due to a change in the spin state of the cytochrome P-450 in these microsomes. Acetone added to the incubation produced an increased rate of aniline hydroxylation by microsomes from control and ethanol-induced rats. The difference between the rate of aniline hydroxylation by control microsomes and the rate by ethanol-induced microsomes was, however, abolished at higher acetone concentrations.     

Inhibition of hepatic S-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and in vivo rates of lipogenesis by a mixture of pure cyclic monoterpenes

A proprietary mixture of pure cyclic monoterpenes (Rowachol) inhibited hepatic HMGCoA reductase by 50–60% when measured 17 hr after the oral administration of a single dose to rats. The extent of this inhibition was independent of the normal activity range of HMGCoA reductase within its diurnal cycle and the same inhibition (65%) was found in 24 hr starved animals where the control reductase activity was less than 20% that of normal fed rats. De novo sterol and fatty acid synthesis in intact, fed rats was measured by incorporation of ³H from injected H₂O. In rats treated with Rowachol the rate of sterol synthesis in vivo was inhibited 52% in liver and 44% in testis with no significant effects in other tissues. The synthesis of non sterol (isoprenoid) compounds in testis was unaffected and the inhibition of sterol synthesis in this tissue probably reflects decreased acquisition of newly synthesized material from liver rather than any effect on the endogenous process. In the same animals the rate of fatty acid synthesis was inhibited 55% in liver. These effects were associated with a significant depletion of liver glycogen which may account for the reduction in rate of fatty acid synthesis. We conclude that the reported cholelitholytic action of monoterpenes is associated with the physiological inhibition of hepatic sterol synthesis mediated by decreased HMGCoA reductase activity.     

The utility of endogenous glycochenodeoxycholate-3-sulfate and 4β-hydroxycholesterol to evaluate the hepatic disposition of atorvastatin in rats

The liver is an important organ for drugs disposition, and thus how to accurately evaluate hepatic clearance is essential for proper drug dosing. However, there are many limitations in drug dosage adjustment based on liver function and pharmacogenomic testing. In this study, we evaluated the ability of endogenous glycochenodeoxycholate-3-sulfate (GCDCA-S) and 4β-hydroxycholesterol (4β-HC) plasma levels to evaluate organic anion-transporting polypeptide (Oatps)-mediated hepatic uptake and Cyp3a-meidated metabolism of atorvastatin (ATV) in rats. The concentration of ATV and its metabolites, 2-OH ATV and 4-OH ATV, was markedly increased after a single injection of rifampicin (RIF), an inhibitor of Oatps. Concurrently, plasma GCDCA-S levels were also elevated. After a single injection of the Cyp3a inhibitor ketoconazole (KTZ), plasma ATV concentrations were significantly increased and 2-OH ATV concentrations were decreased, consistent with the metabolism of ATV by Cyp3a. However, plasma 4β-HC was not affected by KTZ treatment despite it being a Cyp3a metabolite of cholesterol. After repeated oral administration of RIF, plasma concentrations of ATV, 2-OH ATV and 4-OH ATV were markedly increased and the hepatic uptake ratio of ATV and GCDCA-S was decreased. KTZ did not affect plasma concentrations of ATV, 2-OH ATV and 4-OH ATV, but significantly decreased the metabolic ratio of total and 4-OH ATV. However, the plasma level and hepatic metabolism of 4β-HC were not changed by KTZ. The inhibition of hepatic uptake of GCDCA-S by RIF was fully reversed after a 7-d washout of RIF. Plasma concentration and hepatic uptake ratio of GCDCA-S were correlated with the plasma level and hepatic uptake of ATV in rats with ANIT-induced liver injury, respectively. These results demonstrate that plasma GCDCA-S is a sensitive probe for the assessment of Oatps-mediated hepatic uptake of ATV. However, Cyp3a-mediated metabolism of ATV was not predicted by plasma 4β-HC levels in rats.     

The metabolism of acetaldehyde and not acetaldehyde itself is responsible for in vivo ethanol-induced lipid peroxidation in rats

A single oral administration of ethanol (5 g/kg) to rats induced a marked increase in lipid peroxidation, in the liver and kidney within 9 hr, as assessed by malondialdehyde accumulation. The pretreatment with alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) inhibitor, 4-methylpyrazole (1 mmol/kg) caused approximately 50% inhibition of the hepatic ADH activity and abolished this ethanol-induced lipid peroxidation. The disulfiram treatment (100 mg/kg) significantly inhibited 63% of the hepatic low Km aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) but not the high Km ALDH. The cyanamide treatment (15 mg/kg) effectively decreased 83% of the low Km and 70% of the high Km ALDH in the liver. Although there was more than a 20-fold elevation of acetaldehyde levels by the inhibition of acetaldehyde metabolism with disulfiram or cyanamide, the ethanol-induced lipid peroxidation was significantly suppressed by pretreatment with these drugs. More than 90% inhibition of xanthine oxidase and dehydrogenase by the pretreatment with allopurinol (100 mg/kg), with no effect on the hepatic ADH and ALDH activities, did not alter the enhancement of lipid peroxidation following ethanol administration. We propose that the metabolism of acetaldehyde (probably via the low Km ALDH) and not acetaldehyde itself is responsible for the ethanol-induced lipid peroxidation in vivo and that the contribution of xanthine oxidase, as an initiator of lipid peroxidation through acetaldehyde oxidation is minute during acute intoxication.     

Further studies concerning the effects of clofibrate on respiration and oxidative phosphorylation of rat liver mitochondria

Clofibrate, administered in vitro, inhibited rat liver mitochondrial respiration at two sites within the respiratory chain. One site was between the interaction of NADH with NADH dehydrogenase and the point at which electrons from succinate oxidation enter the electron transport chain; another, less sensitive site, was between the interaction of succinate with succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome c. In addition to these specific sites, clofibrate inhibited respiration by causing a depletion of pyridine nucleotides that was accompanied or followed by large-amplitude, non-energy-linked swelling. Clofibrate uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation at coupling sites II and III but not at site I. The concentrations required to cause loss of pyridine nucleotides were lower than those required to inhibit at the specific sites. p-Chlorophenoxyisobutyrate (CPIB) also inhibited succinate and β-hydroxybutyrate-linked respiration, and uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation, but at much higher concentrations (50 per cent inhibition of β-hydroxybutyrate oxidation at about 3·7 μmoles/mg of protein) than were required of clofibrate (50 per cent inhibition of β-hydroxybutyrate oxidation at about 0·17 μmole/mg of protein). Clofibrate administration to rats (100 and 300 mg/kg p.o. daily for 1 week) lowered serum lipid levels and increased the liver size, the amount of mitochondrial protein/g of liver, and the oxygen consumption of liver slices. However, mitochondria, isolated from livers of the treated rats, respired normally. A single administration of clofibrate (100 or 300 mg/kg, p.o.) did not affect liver slice respiration.     

Effect of clofibrate on the metabolism of oleate in the perfused rat liver

The effect of clofibrate on the metabolism of [1-¹⁴C]- and [U-¹⁴C]oleate was examined in the perfused rat liver. Clofibrate feeding severely reduced hepatic triglyceride secretion and enhanced ketone body production. The increase in the rate of incorporation of labeled tracers into perfusate oxidation products and ketone bodies due to the clofibrate treatment was demonstrated only with [U-¹⁴C]oleate. Clofibrate strongly reduced the rate of incorporation of oleate into perfusate triglyceride, whereas that into the phospholipid fraction of the post-perfused liver doubled. In consequence, the sum of the radioactivities in esterified lipids in the perfusate and the post-perfused liver was not altered by clofibrate. A clofibrate-dependent increase in phospholipid synthesis may restrict the amount of exogenous fatty acid which is available for the formation of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.