Hybrid ducks overfed with boiled corn develop an acute hepatic steatosis with decreased choline and polyunsaturated fatty acid level in phospholipids

Abstract

Summary ― Hepatic and plasma lipid changes were investigated in hybrid ducks after steatosis was induced by overfeeding. Fourteen hybrid ducks were force-fed (11 kg corn in 13 days). The liver of the overfed ducks weighed ten times more than that of controls (695 vs 69 g). The phospholipid, ash, water and protein content of the liver were only slightly higher (2.6-, 3.6-, 4.4-and 3.2-fold, respectively) but the liver lipid concentration was 16.5 times higher after than before overfeeding (56.1 vs 3.4 g/100 g liver, respectively). Liver phosphatidylcholine concentration was higher in the control group (32.4 vs 22.9 mol/100 mol phospholipid) revealing a choline deficiency that could contribute to the development of liver steatosis. In liver phospholipid, the level of linoleic and arachidonic acids were markedly decreased in the overfed ducks, from 5 and 18.1 to 3.7 and 7.1 mol/100 mol fatty acids, respectively, and were mainly replaced by oleic acid. Plasma triacylglycerols increased 5.9-fold, cholesterol 2.2-fold and phospholipids 1.6-fold. Heat-induced (50 min at 105 °C) fat release, an index of poor liver integrity, was particularly high for the large, fat livers which contained low levels of phospholipids and phosphatidylcholine.

Current advances in proteomic analysis of (fatty) liver

“…Indeed, translation factors (eukaryotic initiation factor 4A-II and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit 1) were over expressed during overfeeding of ducks [35]. This is consistent with the increase in the protein quantity during the beginning of the period of fat accumulation in livers [36]. These results were also in agreement with those of Zhu et al [32] at the level of gene expression in geese.…”

The effects of genotype and overfeeding on fat level and composition of adipose and muscle tissues in ducks

“…These authors concluded that de novo hepatic lipogenesis prevails over dietary lipid intake in overfed waterfowl, affecting lipid composition of tissues. Gabarrou et al [10] also suggested lower ∆5 and ∆6 desaturase activity. Finally, we confirmed the negative correlation between proportions of PUFA and total lipid levels in muscles previously reported by Rabot [23] in the chicken.…”

Effect of Cereal Grains on the Total Lipid, Cholesterol Content and Fatty Acid Composition of Liver and Muscle Tissues in Native Geese

“…Gabarrou et al [32] reported that the concentration of stearic acid decreased, whereas oleic acid increased noticeably from 10 to 26.3%. The concentrations of (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acid concentration decreased from 5 to 3.7% for linoleic acid and, more sensationally, from 18.1 to 7.1% for arachidonic acid.…”