Lipids and lipogenic enzymes in adipose tissue of castrated male goats

Male goats (“Criolla Argentina” breed), castrated at 45 days of age, showed altered lipid metabolism 180 days after castration as compared to control goats. Subcutaneous, perirenal and omental adipose tissues of castrated goats showed increases in fatty acid synthetase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase activities. Castration increased the amount of total lipids and triglycerides, but did not modify the amount of cholesterol, phospholipid and protein in the three types of adipose tissue. The incorporation of [1-¹⁴C]acetate into fatty acids of subcutaneous and perirenal adipose tissue was increased in castrated goats in relation to noncastrated goats. Our results suggest that removal of gonadal steroids increases significantly the rate of lipogenesis in adipose tissue of male goats.