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The lipolysis of rat chylomicron polyenoic fatty acid esters with bovine milk lipoprotein lipase and human hepatic lipase was examined in vitro. Chylomicrons obtained after feeding fish oil or soy bean oil emulsions were used as substrates. The lipolysis was followed by gas chromatography or by using chylomicrons containing radioactive fatty acids. Lipoprotein lipase hydrolyzed eicosapentaenoic (20:5) and arachidonic acid (20:4) esters at a slower rate than the C14-C18 acid esters. More 20:5 and 20:4 thus accumulated in remaining tri- and diacylglycerols. Eicosatrienoic, docosatrienoic and docosahexanoic acids exhibited an intermediate lipolysis pattern. When added together with lipoprotein lipase, hepatic lipase increased the rate of lipolysis of 20:5 and 20:4 esters of both tri- and diacylglycerols. Addition of NaCl (final concentration 1 M) during the course of lipolysis inhibited lipoprotein lipase as well as the enhancing effect of hepatic lipase on triacylglycerol lipolysis. Hepatic lipase however, hydrolyzed diacylglycerol that had already been formed. Chylomicron 20:4 and 20:5 esters thus exhibit a relative resistance to lipoprotein lipase. It is suggested that the tri- and diacylglycerol species containing these fatty acids may accumulate at the surface of the remnant particles and act as substrate for hepatic lipase during a concerted action of this enzyme and lipoprotein lipase.

The distribution of apolipoproteins A-I and A-IV among lymph lipoprotein fractions was studied after separation by molecular sieve chromatography, avoiding any ultracentrifugation. Lymph was obtained from rats infused either with a glucose solution or with a triacylglycerol emulsion. Relative to glucose infusion, triacylglycerol infusion caused a 20-fold increase in the output of triacylglycerol, coupled with a 4-fold increase in output of apolipoprotein A-IV. The output of apolipoprotein A-I was only elevated 2-fold. Chromatography on 6% agarose showed that lymph apolipoproteins A-I and A-IV are present on triacylglycerol-rich particles and on particles of the size of HDL. In addition, apolipoprotein A-IV is also present as 'free' apolipoprotein A-IV. The increase in apolipoprotein A-I output is caused by a higher output of A-I associated with large chylomicrons only, while the increase in apolipoprotein A-IV output is reflected by an increased output in all lymph lipoprotein fractions, including lymph HDL and 'free' apolipoprotein A-IV. The increased level of 'free' A-IV, seen in fatty lymph, may contribute to, and at least partly explain, the high concentrations of 'free' apolipoprotein A-IV present in serum obtained from fed animals.