Short-term energy deficit causes net accumulation of linoleoyl-enriched triacylglycerols in rat liver

Energy depletion by reduced food intake over 4 days resulted in a 73% reduction in total rat liver triacylglycerols (TG). In liver TG of energy-depleted rats, dilinoleoyl oleoyl glycerol (OLL) and trilinoleoyl glycerol (LLL) were quantitatively increased by 85% and 147%, respectively. The net increase in linoleoyl-enriched species could be quantitatively accounted for by the release of linoleate from monolinoleoyl species and its subsequent reacylation into dilinoleoyl species and trilinolein during energy depletion. Hence while palmitate, oleate and some linoleate are being hydrolyzed, presumably for oxidation, some linoleate is retained and contributes to the remodelling of hepatic triacylglycerols during energy deficit.