Influence of genetic obesity on maternal and fetal serum and lipoprotein lipids in swine.

Serum and lipoprotein lipids were measured in sows and fetuses of a genetically obese strain and a lean strain of pigs. Total triglyceride, VLDL-triglyceride and free fatty acid concentrations tended to be greater, and VLDL- and HDL-cholesterol concentrations tended to be lower, in obese sows when compared with lean sows. In contrast to lean fetuses, obese fetuses had significantly greater concentrations of total cholesterol, total triglyceride and VLDL-triglyceride, and tended to have greater concentrations of VLDL- and HDL-cholesterol and free fatty acids. Distribution of cholesterol between the lipoprotein fractions was similar between strains and between sows and fetuses, but distribution of triglyceride was significantly influenced by both of these factors. Serum lipid patterns of obese pigs were similar to those seen in obese humans, suggesting that the pattern is characteristic of obesity in general. Fetal triglyceride transport was altered by genetic background, but fundamental differences still existed between fetal and maternal lipid profiles. This genetically obese strain of swine appears to be a useful model to study the development of abnormal lipoprotein metabolism, as well as to study the effect of obesity on the relationships between maternal and fetal lipid metabolism.