Time of occurrence of changes in the liver's capacity to utilize acetate for fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis after fat feeding

The time relationships in the changes in hepatic lipogenesis and cholesterogenesis induced by the feeding of corn oil and lard have been studied. A pronounced decrease in the capacity of the liver to convert acetate carbon to fatty acids was observed as early as 1 hour after fat administration. The increase in the liver's capacity to incorporate acetate carbon into cholesterol developed slowly after fat feeding; the earliest change was observed in 12 hours. The restoration of lipogenesis to normal, following the withdrawal of fat, was more rapid than that of cholesterogenesis. The time changes in hepatic lipogenesis and cholesterogenesis induced by fat feeding were correlated with the time of appearance of exogenous fat in the liver.