# The Connection Between Lipid Metabolism in the Heart and Liver of Wuzhishan Pigs

## TL;DR

This study explores how lipid metabolism is balanced in the heart and liver of Wuzhishan pigs, revealing connections between these organs and blood parameters.

## Contribution

The study identifies a balanced lipid metabolism and correlations between heart, liver, and blood in Wuzhishan pigs.

## Key findings

- Fatty acid metabolism is more dominant in the liver than in the heart of Wuzhishan pigs.
- Lipid synthesis and breakdown are balanced in Wuzhishan pigs compared to Large White pigs.
- Lipid metabolites in the liver and heart show strong correlations with each other and with blood parameters.

## Abstract

Lipid metabolism is critical for the physiological activities of signal transduction, metabolic regulation, and energy provision, and Wuzhishan (WZS) pigs are a promising animal model for studying human diseases. However, lipid metabolites in the heart and liver of WZS pigs are indistinct. In this study, we detected gene expression, blood biochemical parameters, and metabolic profiles of hearts and livers of WZS and Large White (LW) pigs, and analyzed correlations between metabolites. The results showed that the fatty acid metabolic process was present in both the heart and liver, and was more dominant in the liver. Although the expression of lipid absorption-related genes of CYP7A1 increased in the liver, CEBPB levels increased in both the liver and heart; the fatty acid beta-oxidation genes RXRA and ACSS2 also showed increased expression. The quantity of metabolites related to lipid synthesis decreased in the liver, heart, and blood for WZS pigs compared to that of LW pigs, indicating a balance of lipid synthesis and breakdown for WZS pigs. Moreover, the lipid metabolites in the liver and heart exhibited strong correlations with each other and showed similar correlations to blood biochemical parameters, respectively. This study declared the balance of lipid metabolism in both the heart and liver, and identified their connections for WZS pigs.