The effect of fasting on the utilization of chylomicron triglyceride fatty acids in relation to clearing factor lipase (lipoprotein lipase) releasable by heparin in the perfused rat heart.

Hearts from rats that have been starved for 10 or 24 hr oxidize (14)C-labeled chylomicron triglyceride fatty acids perfused through them at a higher rate than do hearts from rats in the fed state. Starvation for such periods increases the total clearing factor lipase activity of the heart. It is suggested that most of this increase may be accounted for by a rise in that portion of the total enzyme activity of the tissue that is released on perfusion with heparin. In rats starved for 48 hr, removal of this portion by heparin preperfusion reduces the capacity of the heart to oxidize (14)C-labeled chylomicron triglyceride fatty acids perfused subsequently by more than 80%. It is concluded that correlations between triglyceride fatty acid utilization and clearing factor lipase activity in the heart should be sought only with that portion of the total enzyme activity which is released from the intact organ by heparin.