The uptake of chylomicron fatty acids by isolated liver cells

• 1.

  1. Rats were fed [¹⁴C]tripalmitin and guinea-pigs injected with ¹⁴C-labelled chylomicrons and the livers examined at various time intervals. Most of the ¹⁴C was associated with the individual liver cells but up to 43% of the total in the tissue could be free of the cells.

• 2.

  2. Isolated rat-liver cells can bind chylomicrons to the extent of 40 μg lipid per mg tissue N.

• 3.

  3. The bound chylomicrons are hydrolysed to give free fatty acids.

• 4.

  4. The fatty acids produced are firmly bound but can be removed by fatty acid-free albumin, suggesting that hydrolysis occurs at the cell surface.

• 5.

  5. The hydrolysis of chylomicron triglyceride is not inhibited by protamine sulphate or by heating the cells at 60°; nor is it stimulated by taurocholate.