Insulin-like effects of fatty acid synthesis in liver of hamsters infected with plerocercoids of the tapeworm, Spirometra mansonoides.

Elevated serum lipids are associated with infections of laboratory rodents with plerocercoids of Spirometra mansonoides. The effect of infection with these larval tapeworms on triglyceride degradation and hepatic de novo fatty acid synthesis was investigated in Syrian hamsters. Serum lipoprotein electrophoresis revealed a consistent elevation in very low density lipoproteins in the infected animals. Lipoprotein lipase activity was enhanced in the infected animals. After seven days of plerocercoid infection the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (E.C. 6.4.1.2) was significantly elevated after 6, 12 and 18 hours of fasting. Fatty acid synthetase was significantly increased after 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours of fasting. Therefore, a chronic insulin-like activity on lipid metabolism of hamsters is associated with plerocercoid infection.