The Lipogenic Capacity of Hepatocytes and Lipolytic Rate of Adipocytes in Tsaiya Ducks during Growing and Laying Periods

With an attempt to elucidating the lipid metabolism of Tsaiya ducks, thirty ducks at growing (8 weeks of age) and laying periods (10 weeks after the onset of laying) were examined, respectively. The ducks were randomly allocated into ad libitum feeding and 3-day fasting groups, to investigate their in vitro hepatocytes lipogenesis capacity and adipocytes lipolysis rate. Results indicate that (1) the capacity of hepatocytes incorporation of glucose and acetate into total lipid and metabolite of $^{14}CO_2$ production during the laying period was greater than during the growing period. Approximately 50% of the glucose or acetate converted into triacylglycerol (TG) by the hepatocytes were recovered as fatty acid during the growing period, while it was 65-70% during the laying period. (2) Acetate used for lipogenesis ability was superior to glucose in both periods. (3) The adipocytes lipolysis rate was increased significantly (p<0.05) by fasting. In contrast, the capacity of incorporated glucose or acetate into total lipid, triacylglycerol, fatty acid and glycerol by hepatocytes was reduced significantly (p<0.05) by fasting.