The role of lipoproteins in lipid metabolism of meat animals.
The biological mechanisms that regulate the synthesis and degradation of lipids and lipid transport in plasma are of great significance to animal agriculture. Regulation of lipid synthesis and degradation in meat animals has been studied to some extent. However, the role of plasma lipoproteins in transporting lipid to extrahepatic tissues in meat animals is not well defined. In addition, the knowledge that certain constituents of plasma lipoproteins influence pathways of triglyceride and cholesterol metabolism in adipose tissue, liver and skeletal muscle of humans and rodents has not been widely applied by animal scientists studying the mechanisms that regulate adipose tissue growth in meat animals. Therefore, this review will discuss lipoprotein metabolism and the mechanisms by which constituents of lipoproteins influence lipid metabolism in humans and rodents with application to meat animals.