Effect of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 by MF-438 inhibition on protein acylation during the maturation of rat fetal liver

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of SCD1 inhibitor on the hepatic cell differentiation and alteration of protein acylation during the rat embryonic development. Methods: Pregnant vistar rats with access to standard diet were divided into five groups as follows: control group, group received the inhibitor early in pregnancy, group received inhibitor mid-pregnancy, group received inhibitor together with oleate early in pregnancy, group received oleate alone early in pregnancy. At the gestation day of 19 all embryos liver maturation degree was assessed via histopathological method. Tissue markers of glycogen and total protein were measured via chemical methods, expression rate of hepatic gene markers were measured by RT-PCR, and the protein fatty acylation form was determined by means of selective hydrolysis and gas chromatography. Results: Tissue maturation indices, biochemical markers and the gene expression rate of hepatic maturation markers decreased in group receiving inhibitor in both early- and mid-pregnancy periods (p<0.05). Animals treated with inhibitor together with oleate and groups treated with olate alone displayed increases in the markers mentioned above (p<0.05). In addition, animals treated with inhibitor demonstrated increased releasing of both saturated- and unsaturated fatty acids when hydrolysis reaction of protein extract performed by NaOH. When Na2OH was used as an hydrolyzing agent, there was no significant difference observed amoung groups. Hydrolyzing of protein extracts from animals receiving inhibitor in mid-pregnancy by HCl showed increased levels of saturated fatty acid.