Palm kernel cake (PKC), a by-product of oil palm seeds after extraction of their oil. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different levels of PKC on growth performance and blood lipids in rats. A total of 64 Sprague-Dawley (8 weeks of age) male rats were assigned individually to four treatments with different levels of PKC in the diet: 0, 15, 20 and 25%. No differences (p<0.05) were found in daily feed intake (6-8 g/day), body weight, growth rate and epididymal fat weight for all the dietary groups. Plasma protein and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) triacylglycerol (TG) were higher (p<0.05) for 20% PKC fed rats than the control rats. Conversely, the plasma cholesterol and TG and VLDL-phospholipid (PL) concentrations of the control rats were higher (p<0.05) than those of PKC fed rats. The VLDL-protein, total cholesterol, free cholesterol (FC) and cholesteryl ester (CE) were not significantly different (p>0.05) among the treatment groups. Rats fed PKC had greater (p<0.05) ratios of total surface to core lipid components [(FC+PL)/(CE+TG)] than control rats. The results reflect dissimilarities of VLDL particle size between PKC treatment and control rats, where the plasma of the PKC treated rats contained more lipid rich VLDL. In conclusion, there was no adverse effect on growth performance when inclusion of PKC up to 25%. However, fibre content may affect the plasma lipid concentrations.

A study was conducted to determine the relationships between triacylglycerol (TAG) of plasma, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and fat deposition in two different breeds of chickens. The VLDL apolipoproteins of both breeds were also characterised. The breeds used were crossbred village chicken (AK) (Sasso crossed) and commercial broiler (CB) (Avian). They were housed in six pens with 30 female and 30 male birds of each breed per pen. Three male and three female birds from each pen were slaughtered and the blood was collected. The VLDL was isolated and sub-fractionated using Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC). VLDL TAG of CB was significantly lower than AK. The particle size was negatively correlated with VLDL TAG and positively correlated with abdominal fat. Sub-fraction 2 contained more apo E that will enhance the lipolysis process of the VLDL TAG than subfraction 1. CB had a higher proportion of sub-fraction 2 than AK. The results showed that the proportion of sub-fraction 2 was negatively correlated with VLDL TAG concentration and positively correlated with abdominal fat.

Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) of commercial broiler (CB) and crossbred village chicken (AK) was purified using Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC). The fraction collected was then confirmed as VLDL using 4% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The particle size of VLDL is 46.8±8.6 nm. The VLDL fraction was then subfractionated and the apolipoprotein (apo) profile was studied by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The CB and AK have almost similar types of apo in both subfractions 1 and 2. The AK showed the presence of apoAI, AIV, D and E whereas the CB had apo AIV, D, E and H. The apo AIV and apo E were present in both subfractions of AK and CB. (Asian-Aust.