Effects of palmitic acid on triacylglycerol synthesis and transcription levels of genes related to fatty metabolism in mammary epithelial cells of dairy cows

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of palmitic acid on triacylglycerol(TAG) synthesis and transcription levels of the key genes in fat metabolism of dairy cow mammary epithelial cells(DCMECs) cultured in vitro. In the experiment, Cell viability and proliferation ability were measured by CASY-technology, triacylglycerol contents in medium were detected by Triglyceride Quantitation Kit and the mRNA expression levels of targeted genes were determined by qRT-PCR. The results showed as follows: compared with control group, the cell viability and proliferation ability were inhibited significantly by 200 μmol/L and 250 μmol/L palmitic acid; The contents of triacylglycerol in medium were increased in concentration-dependent manner from 50 to 150 μmol/L palmitic acid. 150 μmol/L palmitic acid did not affect the transcription of fatty acid biosynthesis genes, but it could significantly promote transcription levels of other key genes in fat metabolism of DCMECs. This study suggests that palmitic acid can promote triacylglycerol accumulation and the transcription of the targeted genes in fat metabolism, but high concentration of palmitic acid can inhibit cell viability and proliferation ability.