Membrane physical properties do not explain increased cyclic AMP production in hepatocytes from rats fed menhaden oil

To study the effect of altering plasma membrane fatty acid composition on the glucagon signal transduction pathway, cAMP accumulation was measured in hepatocytes from rats fed diets containing either menhaden oil (MO) or coconut oil (CO). Hepatocytes from MO-fed animals produced significantly more cAMP in response to glucagon and forskolin compared to CO-fed animals. Glucagon receptor number and affinity were similar in MO- and CO-fed rats. Liver plasma membranes from MO-fed animals were enriched in long-chain n-3 fatty acids and contained significantly lower amounts of saturated C₁₀−C₁₆ and 18∶1n−9 than CO-fed animals. Membrane physical properties were examined using both Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and the fluorescent probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH). FTIR analysis revealed that below 34°C, CO membranes were more ordered than MO membranes. However, as assay temperature approached 37°C, MO and CO membranes became similarly ordered. DPH polarization values indicated no differences in membrane order at 37°C, whereas membrane order was decreased in CO-fed animals at 25°C. These data indicate the importance of assay temperature in assessing the influence of membrane physical properties on the activity of signal transduction pathways. Whereas increased signal transduction activity has been correlated to reduced membrane order in MO-fed animals, these data indicate that at physiological temperatures membrane order did not vary between groups. Enhanced cAMP accumulation in response to forskolin indicates that adenylate cyclase activity or content may be elevated in MO-vs. CO-fed rats. Enhanced adenylate cyclase activity may result, in part, from changes in specific fatty acids in hepatocyte plasma membranes without demonstrable changes in membrane physical properties.     

Effects of dietary primrose oil on mammary tumorigenesis induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene

The mammary tumor-promoting effect of a high-fat diet containing 20% evening primrose oil (PO) was compared to that of a 20% corn oil (CO) diet. Mammary tumors were induced in female Sprague-Dawley rats using 10 mg (Study 1) and 5 mg (Study 2) 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA). The 10 mg dose of DMBA gave a total mammary tumor incidence of 47% in rats fed the PO diet and 80% for those fed the CO diet. When only adenocarcinomas were counted, the malignant mammary tumor incidences were 41% in rats fed the PO diet and 73% in rats fed the CO diet. In a second study using 5 mg DMBA to induce mammary tumors, total tumor incidences were 50% for PO-fed rats and 63% for those receiving a CO diet. Again, when only adenocarcinomas were counted, tumor incidences were 27% for PO- and 63% for CO-dieted rats. Analysis of plasma fatty acid profiles indicated that animals fed a 20% PO diet showed significant increases in 18∶3 and 20∶4 fatty acids and significant decreases in 16∶0 and 18∶1 compared to animals fed a 20% CO diet. These results indicate that the mammary tumor promoting effect of a diet containing 20% fat can be diminished by substituting PO for CO. Moreover, the promoting effect on mammary cancer by a high-fat diet could be depressed by feeding a source of γ-linolenic acid (GLA).     

Lipoprotein lipase in rats fed fish oil: Apparent relationship to plasma insulin levels

To investigate the role of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase in the triacylglycerol lowering effects of fish oil, rats were fed lard (L), corn oil (CO) or menhaden oil (MO) as the primary fat source in otherwise identical diets. After 2 weeks, soleus muscle LPL differed between groups (MO>CO>L). Hepatic lipase did not differ between CO- and MO-fed rats but was elevated in L-fed rats. Adipose LPL did not differ between diet groups. Total epididymal fat weight was reduced in MO-fed rats. There was a significant positive correlation between adipose tissue weight and plasma free fatty acids. MO-fed rats had lower plasma insulin levels. Insulin was directly correlated with plasma triacylglycerol and glucose, consistent with a hyperinsulinemic, insulin-resistant state in CO-and L-fed rats, and a protective effect with MO feeding. In addition, insulin was directly correlated with adipose LPL. A negative relationship between soleus muscle LPL and insulin approached significance. Soleus muscle LPL was significantly inversely correlated with triacylglycerol. The data indicate that increased skeletal muscle LPL, in response to MO or a MO-induced decrease in insulin, may contribute to the triacylglycerol-lowering effects of fish oil. Decreased fat weight and adipose LPL and increased soleus muscle LPL and decreased plasma triacylglycerol suggest a shift from fat deposition to oxidation with MO feeding. The lack of response of hepatic lipase to MO feeding suggests that this enzyme does not contribute to the fish oil-stimulated lowering of plasma triacyglycerolvia hepatic reuptake of very low density lipoproteins or other triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins.     

Effect of varying proportions of dietary menhaden and corn oil on experimental rat mammary tumor promotion

Dose-related effects of long-chain highly unsaturated n−3 fatty acids on the development ofN-nitrosomethylurea (NMU)-induced rat mammary tumors were assessed in female F344 rats. Four test groups (36 rats/group) were fed the following high-fat (HF) diets (23% fat, w/w): Group 1, 18% menhaden oil (MO) and 5% corn oil (CO); Group 2, 11% MO and 11.8% CO; Group 3,5% MO and 18% CO; Group 4, CO alone. A fifth group, serving as an internal control, was fed a low-fat diet containing 5% CO alone. Experimental diets were begun after initiation with NMU, and the experiment was terminated 31 wk later. Total tumor numbers in the five groups were 28, 16, 32, 26 and 11, respectively, indicating that the promotion phase of NMU-induced carcinogenesis was significantly suppressed only when equal parts of CO and MO (Group 2) were fed or when CO alone was fed at 5% (w/w). At high (Group 1) or low (Group 3) levels of MO, tumor numbers were indistinguishable from the HF CO group (Group 4). The same pattern was observed when assessed in terms of cumulative tumor incidence and multiplicity. However, when expressed in terms of final tumor incidence, dietary MO did not suppress tumor promotion in a statistically significant fashion at any concentration. Animals fed MO gained weight at the same rate as those fed CO, indicating that the presence of MO in the diet did not result in food avoidance behavior. Measurement of total serum cholesterol indicated an inverse trend with respect to the MO content of the diet. Analysis of serum fatty acid profiles indicated that the proportion of n−3 and n−6 polyun-saturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the serum reflected that of the diet. These results support the hypothesis that the relative proportions of dietary n−3/n−6 fatty acids play an important role in the suppression of experimental mammary tumorigenesis and suggest that changes in circulating cholesterol or n−3 PUFA levels, induced by dietary MO, are not directly related to tumor development. Presented in part at the 81st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, Washington, D.C., May 1990     

Effects of dietary linseed oil and marine oil on lipid peroxidation in monkey liverin vivo andin vitro

Diets rich in linoleic acid (CO) from corn oil, or in linoleic acid and either α-linolenic acid (LO) based on linseed oil or n−3 fatty acids (MO) from menhaden oil were fed to male and female Cynomolgus monkeys for 15 wk. In the liver a 40% reduction of α-tocopherol occurred in the MO group relative to the CO and LO groups followed by increased formation of lipofuscinin vivo. A four-fold increase of α-tocopherol in the MO diet (MO+E) brought the level in the liver to that found with CO and LO. The increased peroxidation in the MO group in the liver phospholipids was associated with the replacement of 60% of the n−6 fatty acids by n−3 fatty acids from menhaden oil. Similar fatty acid profiles were found in groups fed MO and MO+E, respectively. Compared to the CO fed group, feeding α-linolenic acid only resulted in a slight incorporation of n−3 fatty acids in the liver membranes mainly due to a direct incorporation of α-linolenic acid. However, in monkeys fed menhaden oil more than 30% of the total fatty acids in the liver phospholipids were n−3 fatty acids. The various diets did not influence the activity of liver catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) nor superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1), but glutathione-peroxidase activity (EC 1.11.1.9) was higher in monkeys fed the MO diet. The catalase activity in females was 20% higher than in males. In anin vitro assay, liver microsomes from monkeys fed the MO diet or the MO diet supplemented with tocopherol produced similar amounts of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and at a much higher rate than microsomes from the CO and LO groups. It appeared that α-tocopherol did not protect long-chain n−3 C₂₀ and C₂₂ fatty acids as well as n−6 fattya acids against peroxidation. The present data showed that monkeys were not fully able to compensate for increased peroxidative stress but a four-fold supplement of vitamin E to the diets reduced the oxidation.     

Comparative hypocholesterolemic effects of capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris dabbenei) oil, horse oil, and sardine oil in cholesterol-fed rats

The hypocholesterolemic efficacy of various polyunsaturated fatty acids was compared in rats given cholesterol-enriched diets. Capybara oil (CO, linoleic+α-linolenic acids), horse oil (HO, α-linolenic acid), and sardine oil (SO, eicosapentaenoic+docosahexaenoic acids) were added to diets at 50 g/kg. The weight gain, food intake, and liver weight in the CO-fed group were significantly higher than those in other groups during the 6-wk experimental period. The serum total and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)+intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL)+low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations of the CO-fed and SO-fed groups were significantly lower than in the HO-fed group after 6 wk. The serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration in the SO-fed group was significantly higher than that in the CO-fed and HO-fed groups. The fecal neutral sterol concentration in the CO-fed group was reduced significantly compared with the other groups, and the fecal bile acid concentration in the HO-fed group was significantly higher than that in the SO-fed group. The results of this study demonstrate that CO lowers the serum total cholesterol and VLDL+IDL+LDL-cholesterol concentrations in the presence of excess cholesterol in the diet as well as SO.     

Serum lipids in spontaneously hypertensive rats and sprague-dawley rats fed menhaden oil

Dietary n-3 fatty acids, abundant in fish oil, exert a variety of effects that attenuate cardiovascular disease. In this study, we assessed the effect of fish oil (menhaden oil) on the serum lipid profile in hypertensive and normotensive rats. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) or Sprague-Dawley rats (SD) were fed either standard powdered diet (L-485), or L-485+5% menhaden oil (MO) or L-485+5% corn oil (CO) from weaning through eight months of age. Systolic blood pressure (BP) was periodically determined on SHR. Serum lipid profiles were performed at eight months on sample taken from the exposed hearts of anesthetized, fasted rats. SHR, compared with SD (diets combined) had significantly lower triaclyglycerols (TG), higher cholesterol (CHOL), higher high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL CHOL), higher low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL CHOL), and a higher LDL:HDL ratio. Comparison among diets (strains combined) revealed that rats fed MO had the lowest values for TG, CHOL, LDL and LDL:HDL; HDL did no vary with diet. SHR were less responsive to diet-induced changes than were SD; no decrease in TG, LDL or LDL:HDL was observed in SHR, nor was degree of hypertension altered in SHR by the MO or CO diet. In summary, MO is more effective than CO in shifting the lipid profile of rats toward one that is less atherogenic. However, the SD rat is more susceptible to diet-induced lipid modification than is the SHR.     

Lipid peroxidation in rat tissue slices: Effect of dietary vitamin E,corn oil-lard and menhaden oil

Rats were fed for 5 weeks either 10% (w/w) menhaden oil (MO) or a 10% corn oil-lard (COL) mixture (1∶1) in diets with ≤5 IU or ≤2 IU/kg vitamin E, respectively, or the same diets supplemented with d-α-tocopheryl succinate to a total of 35 and 180 IU vitamin E/kg, respectively. Slices of liver and heart from these rats were used to study lipid peroxidationin vitro. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were measured in the medium after incubation of the slices at 37°C for 1 hr in the absence (uninduced) and presence of 0.5 mM tert-butyl hydroperoxide (induced). The release of TBARS from slices of heart and liver from rats fed either lipid decreased with increasing levels of dietary vitamin E. At the same level of dietary vitamin E, TBARS release was greater for slices of liver and heart from the MO-fed rats than from the COL-fed rats. Application of the TBARS data to a model simulating the experimental conditions showed a good correlation (r=0.95, p<0.001) between experimental and simulated values. Of the 16∶0–22∶6 fatty acids measured in liver from MO-fed rats, 15.4% was n−6 fatty acids and 29.9% was n−3 fatty acids; in liver from COL-fed rats, the respective values were 37.4% and 3.7%. Liver and kidney vitamin E levels were unaffected by the dietary lipid. This study demonstrated that a dietary fish oil increased the susceptibility of rat liver and heart toin vitro lipid peroxidation, and that vitamin E decreased TBARS in tissues from rats fed COL to lower levels than for tissues from rats fed MO. The results suggest that there might also be an increased requirement for dietary antioxidants by humans using fish oil supplements.     

Reduction in triacylglycerol levels by fish oil correlates with free fatty acid levels inad libitum fed rats

Rats were fed (for 2 or 6 wk) purified diets containing lard (LD) or menhaden oil (MO) at two levels of dietary fat,i.e., at 11.5 and 20.8% of energy in the low fat (LF) and the medium fat (MF) diets, respectively. Following the diet period, rats were sacrificed after either an overnight fast or after uninterruptedad libitum feeding. The studies were designed to investigate the dependence of our previously reported effects of MO,i.e. the reduction of plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels and accumulation of hepatic triacylglycerols, on the dietary fat concentration and the nutritional state of the animal at the time of sacrifice. Reductions in plasma triacylglycerol and cholesterol levels in MO-fed relative to LD-fed rats were observed under all conditions. FFA levels were consistently reduced by MO-feeding at both dietary fat concentrations, but only when blood was sampled fromad libitum fed rats. Under these conditions there was a significant positive relationship between plasma FFA and triacylglycerol concentrations. Reduction in plasma FFA levels may be an additional mechanism associated with the triacylglycerol-lowering effect of fish oil (FO). The LF and MF MO diets caused a rise in plasma glucose levels with no significant change in insulin concentration, indicating that the reduction of FFA by MO was not related to changes in insulin concentration or insulin sensitivity. The MO diets had no effect on skeletal muscle or epididymal adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase activity, demonstrating that catabolism of triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins contributes little, if any, to the MO-dependent reductions of plasma triacylglycerol and FFA. The previously reported accumulation of hepatic triacylglycerols after high fat (HF; 30% of energy) MO-feeding was not observed with the LF or MF MO diets, suggesting that the apparent direct inhibition of triacylglycerol secretion by FO imposes a rate-limitation only when feeding HF diets.     

Accumulation of eicosapentaenoic acid in plasma phospholipids of subjects fed canola oil

The metabolism of α-linolenic acid from canola oil was studied in eight normolipidemic men. The 42-day study was divided into three periods: a 6-day pre-experimental and two 18-day experimental. Approximately 75% of the dietary fat (28% of total energy) was provided by a mixture of fats during the pre-experimental period and either canola oil (CO) or sunflower oil (SO) during the experimental periods. The CO and SO diets were fed in a cross-over design. The ratios of linoleic to linolenic acid were 2.6∶1 and 73.9∶1 in the CO and SO diets, respectively. Dietary fat source had an effect on plasma phospholipid fatty acids: 18∶1n−9, 18∶3n−3 and 20∶5n−3 were higher (p<0.05), and 18∶2n−6 was lower in the phosphatidylcholine fraction; 18∶1n−9 was higher and 20∶4n−6 lower in the phosphatidyl-ethanolamine fraction; and 18∶1n−9 and 20∶5n−3 were higher and 20∶4n−6 and 22∶6n−3 were lower in the alkenylacyl-ethanolamine phospholipid fraction on the CO diet as compared to the SO diet. Consumption of the canola oil diet resulted in higher n−3 fatty acid levels and lower n−6 fatty acid levels in plasma phospholipids than consumption of the sunflower oil diet.     

Dietary CLA-induced Lipolysis Is Delayed in Soy Oil-Fed Mice Compared to Coconut Oil-Fed Mice

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been shown to cause a reduction in obesity in several species. CLA-induced body fat loss is enhanced when mice are fed coconut oil (CO) and involves increased lipolysis. The objective of this paper was to determine if the CLA-induced lipolysis in mice fed with different oil sources was time-dependent. Mice were fed 7 % soybean oil (SO) or CO diets for 6 week and then supplemented with 0 or 0.5 % CLA for 3, 7, 10 or 14 days. Body fat and ex-vivo lipolysis was determined. Body fat was reduced by CO on day 7 (P < 0.01) and in both CO and SO-fed mice (P < 0.05) in response to CLA on d14. Lipolysis was increased by CLA in CO-fed mice (P < 0.01) but not in SO-fed mice on day 7 and 10, but on day 14 CLA increased lipolysis in both CO- and SO-fed mice (P < 0.001). Expression and activation level of proteins involved in lipolysis and lipogenesis was determined by western blotting and real-time PCR, respectively. No significant differences were detected in protein expression. CO-fed mice had greater fatty acid synthase and stearyl CoA desaturase 1 mRNA expression and less acetyl CoA carboxylase mRNA expression (P < 0.01). Sterol regulatory binding protein 1c was decreased by CLA in CO-fed mice and increased in SO-fed mice (P < 0.05). Malic enzyme expression was increased by CLA (P < 0.001) and CO (P < 0.01). Therefore, CLA-induced lipolysis occurs more rapidly in CO vs SO-fed mice and lipogenesis is decreased in CO-fed mice with CLA supplementation.     

Dietary menhaden, seal, and corn oils differentially affect lipid and Ex vivo eicosanoid and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances generation in the guinea pig

This investigation was carried out to characterize the effects of specific dietary marine oils on tissue and plasma fatty acids and their capacity to generate metabolites (prostanoids, lipid peroxides). Young male guinea pigs were fed nonpurified diet (NP), or NP supplemented (10%, w/w) with menhaden fish oil (MO), harp seal oil (SLO), or corn oil (CO, control diet) for 23 to 28 d. Only the plasma showed significant n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-induced reductions in triacylglycerol (TAG) or total cholesterol concentration. Proportions of total n−3 PUFA in organs and plasma were elevated significantly in both MO and SLO dietary groups (relative to CO), and in all TAG fractions levels were significantly higher in MO-than SLO-fed animals. The two marine oil groups differed in their patterns of incorporation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). In guinea pigs fed MO, the highest levels of EPA were in the plasma TAG, whereas in SLO-fed animals, maximal incorporation of EPA was in the heart polar lipids (PL). In both marine oil groups, the greatest increases in both docosahexaenoic acid (22∶6n−3, DHA) and docosapentaenoic acid (22∶5n−3, DPA) relative to the CO group, were in plasma TAG, although the highest proportions of DHA and DPA were in liver PL and heart TAG, respectively. In comparing the MO and SLO groups, the greatest difference in levels of DHA was in heart TAG (MO>SLO, P<0.005), and in levels of DPA was in heart PL (SLO>MO, P<0.0001). The only significant reduction in proportions of the major n−6 PUFA, arachidonic acid (AA), was in the heart PL of the SLO group (SLO>MO=CO, P<0.005). Marine oil feeding altered ex vivo generation of several prostanoid metabolites of AA, significantly decreasing thromboxane A₂ synthesis in homogenates of hearts and livers of guinea pigs fed MO and SLO, respectively (P<0.04 for both, relative to CO). Lipid peroxides were elevated to similar levels in MO- and SLO-fed animals in plasma, liver, and adipose tissue, but not in heart preparations. This study has shown that guinea pigs respond to dietary marine oils with increased organ and plasma n−3 PUFA, and changes in potential synthesis of metabolites. They also appear to respond to n−3 PUFA-enriched diets in a manner that is different from that of rats.     

Absorption difference between diacylglycerol oil and butter blend containing diacylglycerol oil

This study aims at investigating whether the intake of butter blends containing diacylglycerol (DAG) oil may result in reduced fat accumulation, in similarity to DAG oil, and the potential metabolic differences between butter blends and DAG oil. Four experimental diets containing either 10 wt% DAG butter blend (BDAG), triacylglycerol (TAG) butter blend (BTAG), DAG oil (ODAG) or TAG oil (OTAG) were prepared, and each was fed to a group of 8 male Wistar rats. The design of the experiment was a combined balance and feeding experiment. The rats fed the BTAG and ODAG‐diets had a significantly higher protein content than rats fed the BDAG and OTAG‐diets, and the fat content was significantly lower in rats fed the ODAG‐diet as compared to rats fed the OTAG and BDAG‐diets. A significantly higher content of ash was observed in rats fed the two TAG diets. The ratio of abdominal fat weight/body weight was significantly higher for rats fed the BDAG‐diet than for rats fed the BTAG and ODAG‐diets. To conclude, the beneficial effects of DAG oil in reducing body fat accumulation cannot be observed in DAG oil containing butter blends, and the effect of DAG on bone health requires further investigation.     

The effect of dietary fat on the fatty acid composition of lipids secreted in rats' milk

During pregnancy and lactation, female rats were fed diets containing either 28% partially hydrogenated marine oil (28MO), 2% arachis oil (2AO), or no fat (FF). Milk lipid composition was examined by gas chromatographic analysis of the gastric content of 10-day-old suckling pups. An increase to 45% in the milk content of long chain monoenoic acids, 18∶1, 20∶1 and 22∶1, reflects the fatty acid composition of the marine oil. Milk fatty acids of medium chain length comprised 6%, 31% and 24% of total fatty acids in the (28MO), (2AO) and (FF) groups, respectively, suggesting that a high-fat diet (28MO) inhibits the lipid synthetic activity of mammary glands. The amount of dienoic C₁₈-acids (6%) in the group fed (28MO) containing no essential fatty acids (EFA) was similar to the amount of 18∶2 in the group receiving a low-fat, EFA-rich diet (2AO). However, only half the dienoic acid from the milk of the (28MO)-fed animals was linoleic acid, which was most likely mobilized from fat depots.     

Fatty acid oxidation in relation to cholesterol biosynthesis in rats

Groups of male and female rats were fed diets containing (calorie basis) 2% corn oil (low-fat, LF), 42% corn oil (CO) or 2% corn oil plus 40% beef tallow (BT) for 2 weeks. Then rats of each sex and diet group were given an intraperitoneal injection of¹⁴C-acetate,- stearate- oleate or linoleate. Acetate incorporation into cholesterol and rate of oxidation of each fatty acid were determined. Specific activity of cholesterol was higher in females than males, higher with 40% lipid in the diet than with 2% corn oil and higher for CO than BT. Linoleate was oxidized more rapidly than oleate which exceeded stearate. An index of dietary lipid oxidation was computed based on fatty acid oxidation rate, per cent of each fatty acid in the diet and per cent of lipid calories in the diet. Serum cholesterol-¹⁴C was found to be proportional to dietary lipid oxidation index.     

The effect of dry heat on the bioavailability of iron in soy flour

Bioavailability of iron in soy flour was investigated by the Hemoglobin Regeneration Efficiency (HRE) procedure in 50 three-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats weighing 250 ±7 g and with a mean hemoglobin level of 12.9 g/dl were randomly assigned to one of five treatment groups: baseline (BL), unheated soy flour (UH), soy flour heated at 225°F for either 10 min (H10), 30 min (H30), or 120 min (H120). The animals were fed diets (46 ppm iron) containing the soy flour for 21 days. HREs of UH, H10, H30, H120 diets were 17.6, 16.8, 17.7 and 16.8%, respectively. Apparent iron absorption from the UH, H10, H30 and H120 diets was 94.7, 94.3, 93.9 and 94.3%, respectively. Serum iron was significantly lower (p<.001) and total iron binding capacity was significantly higher (p<.001) in rats fed the H120 diet. Iron concentrations in the liver, spleen, heart and kidney were significantly lower in rats fed H30 or H120 diets. These results suggest that prolonged heating of soy flour may reduce iron bioavailability and result in depletion of iron stores.     

The n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in rat tissue lipids increase in response to dietary olive oil relative to sunflower oil

In the present study, changes in phospholipid compositions of liver microsomes, erythrocyte membranes, platelets, aorta, cardiac muscle and brain of rats fed olive oil were compared with those of rats fed sunflower oil. Four groups of rats starting at weaning were fed for four weeks a basal diet containing 5 or 25% olive oil or sunflower oil. We found that oleic acid was higher and linoleic acid was lower in membrane phospholipids of olive oil fed rats compared to sunflower oil fed rats. Polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n−3 series were markedly elevated in all tissues of rats on the olive oil diets relative to those on the sunflower oil diets. The results are consistent with a lower linoleic/linolenic acid ratio induced by the olive oil diets, suggesting a positive correlation between olive oil ingestion and n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in cell and tissue lipids. The study suggests that an adequate intake of olive oil may enhance the conversion of n−3 fatty acids.     

Influence of triacylglycerol structure and fatty acid profile of dietary fats on milk triacylglycerols in the rat. A two-generation study

We investigated the influence of dietary fatty acid profile and triacylglycerol structure on the fatty acid profile and triacylglycerol structure of milk lipids in two generations of rats. Three groups of rats received diets containing 20% fat of which approximately 20% was n-3 fatty acids located in different positions of the triacylglycerol: a fish oil-based diet [docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) predominantly in thesn-2 position], a seal oil-based diet (22:6n-3) predominantly in thesn-1/sn-3 position or a plant oil-based diet [α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) distributed evenly between the three positions]. This design allowed us to investigate (i) the effect of the triacylglycerol structure of the dietary fat; (ii) the effect of receiving the n-3 fatty acids as long-chain derivatives or as the precursor, 18:3n-3; and (iii) the long-term effects over two generations. The fatty acid profiles of the milk lipids largely reflected the diets, but in the second generation, the level of medium-chain fatty acids was higher (P<0.05) in the milk from rats fed the fish oil diet (24%) compared with the other dietary groups (15 and 18%). This suggests an increased endogenous synthesis of fatty acids in the mammary glands of the fish oil-fed rats. The levels of long-chain n-3 fatty acids in milk were higher (P<0.05) in rats fed maire n-3 fatty acids in milk were higher (P<0.05) in rats fed marie oils (8–12%) compared with rats fed vegetable oil (1%) in both generations. The level of long-chain n-3 fatty acids was significantly higher in the milk from the fish oil-fed rats (12.3%) compared to the seal-oil fed rats (8.0%) in the first generation, but not in the second generation (8.9 vs. 9.1%). The general structure of milk triacylglycerols was maintained in the three experimental groups with 16:0 acylated in thesn-2 position and 18:1 in thesn-1/sn-3 positions. The triacylglycerol structure of mammalian milk appears to be conserved even during extreme dietary manipulation over two generations and an extensive enrichment with long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids requires their presence in the diet.     

Relationship between erucic acid and myocardial changes in male rats

The back and belly fat of pigs fed a diet containing 20% by wt rapeseed oil (22% erucic acid) for 16 weeks was rendered into oil. This rendered pig fat, which contained 5.6% erucic acid, was fed to male rats in three separate experiments at 20% by wt of the diet for 16 weeks. In experiment I rendered pig fat was compared only toBrassica campestris var. Span rapeseed oil containing 4.8% erucic acid. In experiments II and III, rendered pig fat was compared to commerical lard containing 0.2% docosenoic acid, commercial lard to which 5.4% free erucic acid was added, and Span rapessed oil. There was no significant (P<0.01) differences observed in the level of erucic acid in the hearts of rats fed diets of rendered pig fat, Span rapeseed oil, or commercial lard plus erucic acid. However, the incidence (P<0.001) and severity (P<0.01) of cardiac lesions were significantly higher in Span rapeseed oil fed rats compared to rats fed control diets. The number of rats affected or the severity of lesions in the rendered pig fat fed group was not significantly different from controls. The results of this study indicate that the myocardial lesions associated with feeding 20% rapeseed oil diets are not related to the content of erucic acid per se. The possible reasons why rapeseed oil causes cardiac lesions in rats are discussed. It is suggested that a triglyceride imbalance in the oil might play an important role in causing these lesions in rats. Contribution No. 585, Animal Research Institute, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Canada, K1A 0C6.     

Reduced plasma lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase activity in rats fed iron-deficient diets

An iron-deficient diet containing no fat (FF?Fe) or containing either 14% hydrogenated coconut oil (HCNO?Fe) or 14% corn oil (CO?Fe) was fed to separate groups of rats for 10 weeks. In the control group, the corresponding iron-supplemented diets were fed FF+Fe, HCNO+Fe, CO+Fe. When rats were fed iron-deficient diets, their plasma lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) activity was significantly reduced as compared to controls. Their plasma also contained relatively more cholesteryl esters (CE) than free cholesterol (CH). In rats fed FF+Fe and CO+Fe diets, plasma contained similar levels of CE and CH. In those fed HCNO+Fe diet, plasma had 40% less CE than CH. Red cell CH content was significantly greater in the CO?Fe group. Iron deficiency, as indicated by low blood hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) values, was also observed only in this group. The triglyceride and phospholipid contents of plasma in rats fed iron-deficient diets were significantly lower than of those in the control groups. Thus, changes in LCAT activity and CE/CH ratio in plasma showed the effect of iron-deficient diet consumption even before the blood Hb and Hct levels were reduced.