This thesis describes two approaches for studying of lipoprotein metabolism in sheep. The first approach involves the assay of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity to determine the role of lipoprotein-triacylglycerol fatty acids in fat deposition in sheep. This enzyme is the rate limiting enzyme in the hydrolysis of fatty acids from lipoprotein-triacylglycerol. The second approach was to characterize and quantify in vivo lipoprotein metabolism using iodinated very low density lipoprotein (¹²⁵I-VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (¹³¹I-LDL). Cross-bred lambs were divided into two treatment groups and either weaned early at 5 weeks of age or remained suckling. Lambs were slaughtered at 12 or 23 weeks at which time the body composition and adipose tissue LPL activity were determined. The differences in rearing led to differences in body composition. The suckled lambs were larger and fatter than weaned lambs. The increased fatness in the suckled lambs was associated with increased LPL activity (U/mg protein) in subcutaneous adipose tissue and was reflected in higher LPL activity in post-heparin plasma (PHP) taken 2 days prior to slaughter. The role of insulin in the regulation of LPL activity was investigated by either infusing a subset of the weaned and suckled lambs with insulin for 7 or 18 weeks or using the euglycemic clamp technique to study the effect of short insulin infusions. The long term infusion of insulin had no significant effect on PHP LPL or on adipose tissue LPL (U/g tissue). However, after infusing insulin for 6h at 6.3 mU.kg⁻·⁷⁵.h⁻¹ during the euglycemic clamps, a two fold increase in LPL activity in biopsied subcutaneous adipose tissue was observed. In the second approach, in vivo lipoprotein metabolism was investigated in 4 lambs using apolipoprotein B as a marker. Following the simultaneous injection of ¹²⁵I VLDL and ¹³¹I VLDL, the specific activities of apoB in VLDL, IDL and LDL fractions were determined. ApoB specific activity curves demonstrated that VLDL is metabolised to IDL and subsequently to LDL. The turnover of VLDL-B (3.45mg.d⁻¹.kg⁻¹) and LDL-B (4.8mg.d⁻¹.kg⁻¹) was calculated by fitting the VLDL-¹²⁵I-B and LDL-¹³¹I-B specific activity data to a mono-exponential equation. The metabolism of lipoproteins, inferred from the study of apoB, was shown to be similar in sheep to that reported in other animals although the amount of lipoprotein synthesised was low. A model to describe the kinetics of apoB metabolism in sheep was developed using SAAM. The proposed model features a three pool delipidation chain for VLDL, and subsystems containing two pools for IDL and LDL. IDL may be catabolised to LDL or cleared directly from the plasma. The developed model can now be used to compare the metabolism of lipoproteins in different physiological states and to design new experiments to study lipoprotein metabolism further.

La première partie de mon travail de thèse a été de définir le rôle joué par le récepteur nucléaire Rev-erb alpha dans les mécanismes de synchronisation par la nourriture d’une horloge circadienne putative, non encore localisée, appelée « horloge alimentaire ». La seconde partie de mon travail a consisté à étudier la participation de Rev-erb alpha dans les régulations des métabolismes glucidique et lipidique. L’ensemble de nos données indique que le répresseur transcriptionnel Rev-erb alpha joue un rôle charnière dans les fonctions circadiennes ainsi que dans le métabolisme. En effet, d’un point de vue circadien, l’absence de Rev-erb alpha altère la synchronisation à l’heure des repas – démontré par une réduction des sorties comportementales et physiologiques de l’horloge alimentaire, ainsi que par l’absence d’ajustement du rythme de la protéine d’horloge PER2 dans l’oscillateur cérébelleux. Sur le plan métabolique, la délétion de ce gène modifie notamment le métabolisme des lipides – démontré par une accumulation excessive de tissu adipeux, une utilisation préférentielle des acides gras, ainsi qu’une perte de contrôle de l’expression de la Lipoprotéine lipase. / The work performed during this PhD thesis aimed at investigating the role of the transcriptional silencer Rev-erbα in both the circadian clockwork of the food-entrainable oscillator and metabolic regulations. Firstly, by evaluating food-anticipatory components in animals fed once a day at the same time, we showed that mice lacking Rev-erbα display a reduction in locomotor activity prior to food access compared to littermate controls. Accordingly, the rises in body temperature and corticosterone that anticipate mealtime are also diminished. Interestingly, daily p-ERK expression in hypothalamic regions and daily PER2 expression in the cerebellum of Rev-erbα KO mice are not phase-adjusted to feeding time. These results indicate that Rev-erbα participates in the integration of feeding signals and in food-seeking behaviors. Secondly, by investigating energy balance in fasted, normal chow or high-fat fed animals, we revealed that Rev-erbα KO mice exhibit greater reliance on lipid fuels as energy substrates, contributing to a mild hyperglycemic state. We also found that Lipoprotein lipase (Lpl) expression, is strongly up-regulated in peripheral tissues of Rev-erbα KO mice, predisposing mice to obesity. In this regard, we uncovered a new molecular pathway that ties clock-driven Lpl expression to energy homeostasis. These findings highlight the significance of daily Rev-erbα oscillations to prevent the appearance of the metabolic syndrome.In conclusion, we provide evidence that REV-ERBα may be a part of the food-entrainable oscillator clockwork that triggers food-anticipatory components, and represents a pivotal player to link the core clock machinery to metabolic pathways.

La lipolyse est une réaction enzymatique qui influence négativement les qualités organoleptiques et technologiques du lait. La lipolyse spontanée (LS) correspond à la part de la lipolyse qui dépend de l’animal et du système d’élevage. La LS résulte de l’action de la lipoprotéine lipase (LPL) et de ses cofacteurs sur les globules gras (GG). L’objectif de la thèse a été de comprendre les variations de LS à l’échelle zootechnique et à l’échelle du lait. Les vaches (VL) ont pu être classées en 2 groupes selon leur phénotype : « susceptible » et « non susceptible » à la LS, confirmant l’importance de l’effet individu. Chez les VL susceptibles, nous avons confirmé un effet de la race/génétique, de la parité, du stade physiologique, du moment de la traite, de la fréquence de traite et de l’alimentation.La LS était plus élevée dans les laits issus de la traite du soir, chez les VL Holstein, génotypées KK au locus de DGAT-1. Elle l’était également en fin de lactation et en début de lactation uniquement chez les multipares hautes productrices. Un bilan énergétique négatif pourrait expliquer ces variations. L’augmentation de la fréquence de traite, la restriction alimentaire, l’alimentation à base d’ensilage de maïs comparé à l’herbe conservée/fraîche et la supplémentation lipidique ont également augmenté la LS. Le mécanisme d’action implique probablement une inhibition de la LS par la protéose peptone 5. La membrane des GG semblerait avoir un rôle crucial dans le maintien de l’intégrité du GG, l’interaction avec la LPL et l’équilibre des cofacteurs. L’impact des facteurs zootechniq / Lipolysis is an enzymatic reaction which leads to off-flavor in milk and impairs technological properties of milk. Spontaneous lipolysis (SL) is the fraction of lipolysis which depends on cows and breeding systems. SP corresponds to the hydrolysis of milk fat in milk fat globules (MFG) by the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and its cofactors. The aim of the PhD was to understand SL variations at both zootechnical and biochemical levels. Cows were sorted in two groups according their phenotype: “susceptible” and “non-susceptible” to SL, confirming the strong impact of the individual effect. Among cows “susceptible” to SL, we confirmed the effects of breed/genetics, parity, physiological stage, milking moment, milking frequency and feeding systems. SL was higher in evening milks of Holstein cows and of cows having the KK genotype at the DGAT-1 locus. SL was higher in late lactation and, in early lactation only for high merit multiparous cows, probably in relation to negative energy balanceAn increase in milking frequency, feeding restriction, maize silage based diets compared to fresh grass and conserved grass based diets and lipid supplementation enhanced SL. At a biochemical level, LS might be inhibited by proteose peptone 5. The MFG membrane might play an important role on MFG integrity, LPL and MFG interactions, and cofactors balance. The impact of zootechnical and biochemical factors on SL is still difficult to hierarchize