The influence of essential fatty acids and food restriction on the specific activities of hepatic lipogenic and glutamate-metabolizing enzymes in the laying hen

Abstract

1. Extended feeding of an essential fatty acid (EFA)-deficient diet to laying hens increased liver size and liver lipid concentration.2. The specific activities of hepatic lipogenic and glutamate-metabolizing enzymes were increased by feeding the EFA-deficient diet.3. Restriction of daily food intake to 75 % ofad lib. intake did not affect the response to dietary fat concentration.4. Hepatic enzyme activities in hens fed on restricted amounts of food and killed just before, or after, the normal daily feeding time indicated no reduced capacity for lipogenesis at the earlier time.