Androgenic modulation of lipid metabolism at subcellular sites in cholestatic rats.

The present studies examine the modulation of lipid metabolism at subcellular sites in the liver of control and cholestatic rats by a male sex hormone. Subcutaneous injection of testosterone enanthate (5 mg/kg body weight), increased triacylglycerol lipase (TG-lipase) and neutral cholesterol ester hydrolase (CE-hydrolase) activity in endosomes of normal rats. During induced cholestasis, TG-lipase and CE-hydrolase activity in endosomal fractions were decreased compared to those in endosomes of age-matched sham-operated female controls. Following testosterone administration to cholestatic rats, endosomal lipolytic enzyme activity increased to approximate the levels of normal controls. These observations may provide insight into the alterations in lipid metabolism which accompany cholestatic liver disease.