Influence of glucagon on the synthesis of phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylethanolamines in monolayer cultures of Rat hepatocytes

Diacylglycerols function as common precursors in biosynthesis of triacylglycerols (TG), phosphatidylcholines (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamines (PE). Several investigators have shown that the distribution diacylglycerols among TG, PC and PE in rat can be influenced by varying the dietary state of animal. Fasting, for example, causes a inhibition in the formation of hepatic TG whereas the synthesis of PC and, particularly, of PE are much less affected. These suggest that the hormones insulin and may be involved in the regulation of the of these glycerolipids since the ratio of and glucagon is determined largely by the state of the animal.