Effect of chylomicron remnants on cholesterol metabolism in cultured rabbit hepatocytes: very low density lipoprotein and bile acid production.

The interrelationship between very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion and bile acid production was studied in primary culture of rabbit hepatocytes. Chylomicron remnants (CR) were added to the cultures to study their effect on VLDL secretion and bile acid production. After 24 hr preincubation of cells with CR (10-50 micrograms protein/mL), intercellular neutral lipid content was increased 1.5-4-fold in a dose-dependent manner. Neutral lipid accumulation was accompanied by a 70-90% reduction of [14C]acetate incorporation into cholesterol, while no stimulation of [14C]oleate incorporation into cholesteryl esters was observed. Incubation of cells with CR increased secretion of free cholesterol, triacylglycerol and apoproteins B and E in VLDL. Stimulation of VLDL cholesterol secretion was accompanied by a reduction of taurocholic acid synthesis. These data demonstrate the existence of an inverse relationship between secretion of VLDL cholesterol and bile acid production under conditions of effective uptake of triacylglycerol-rich CR by hepatocytes.