Nervonic acid in red blood cell sphingomyelin in premature infants: An index of myelin maturation?

The present study addresses the question whether nervonic acid (24∶1n−9) accumulation in sphingomyelin (SM) of red blood cells (RBC) could yield information on cerebrum maturation in premature infants. The study included 28 premature eutrophic infants of 31.5 wk gestational age. Eleven were fed with human milk, nine with a regulator formula and eight with an α-linolenate-enriched formula. The fatty acid composition of the SM fraction was determined by gas-liquid chromatography on a 50-m fused silica capillary column. At 32 wk gestational age, the main fatty acids in SM were 16∶0, 18∶0, 20∶0, 22∶0, 24∶0 and 24∶1n−9. After five weeks of feeding, at week 37 of postconceptional age, the most striking variation was a rise in 24∶1n−9, from 9.9±0.7 to 12.8±0.9 (P<0.02), regardless of regimen in all three feeding groups. The rise in 24∶1n−9 after birth in premature eutrophic infants is the beginning of a trend toward the higher levels in 24∶1n−9 observed in mature newborns and older infants. The 24∶1n−9 level in SM of RBC from premature infants may reflect 24∶1n−9 levels in SM of brain and could thus reflect brain maturity.     

Effect of early postnatal dietary sterculate on the fatty acid composition of rat liver and brain lipids

Pregnant rats were fed a high carbohydrate diet containing either 1% trilinolein or 1% trilinolein with 0.2% methyl sterculate from 18 day gestation to 21 day postpartum. The pups were weaned at 21 days and continued on the same diet for an additional 10 days. The microsomal stearyl CoA desaturase activities of the liver were effectively inhibited. Liver triglycerides showed increases in the saturated fatty acids concentrations at the expense of the corresponding monoenes. The concentration ofcis 6–7 octadecenoic acid was elevated. In liver phospholipids, the concentration of stearic acid was increased without a corresponding decrease in the oleic acid content. A drastic decrease in the nervonic acid (24∶1, n−9) concentration of liver sphingomyelin was observed. The lipids of the brain did not contain sterculic acid, and brain desaturase activity was unaffected. There was no significant change in the concentration of monoenoic acids from 16∶1 to 22∶1. However, nervonic acid was decreased by 32%. These results suggest that brain nervonic acid may be derived from a precursor other than oleic acid.     

Fatty acids bound to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fasciola hepatica</Emphasis> 12 kDa fatty acid-binding protein,a candidate vaccine,differ from fatty acids in extracts of adult flukes

The FA composition of Fasciola hepatica 12 kDA purified native FA-binding protein (nFh12), a candidate vaccine against fascioliasis, is described. The FA chain lengths ranged between 12 and 24 carbons. The principal FA were 16∶0 18∶1n−9, 18∶0, 20∶4n−6, and 20∶1n−9. The acids 16∶0, 18∶1n−9, and 18∶0 comprised over half the FA that were bound to the whole FA-binding protein. Small amounts (1.0–2.8%) of isoanteiso methyl-branched FA also were characterized. Forty-one different FA were identified in extracts of the adult flukes, with the three most abundant FA also being 16∶0, 18∶1n−9, and 18∶0. A similar proportion of saturated vs. unsaturated FA was observed between the whole extract from F. hepatica and the nFh12 protein. However, the n−3/n−6 ratio of PUFA was significantly different, being 1.2 in the whole extract vs. 9.6 in the nFh12 protein complex. The nFh12 protein binds more n−5, n−6, and n−7 PUFA and less n−3 and n−9 PUFA than the whole extract. In addition, cholesterol (56%), sitosterol (36%), and fucosterol (8%) also were bound to the nFh12 protein complex.     

Myocardial changes in newborn piglets fed sow milk or milk replacer diets containing different levels of erucic acid

This study was undertaken to determine whether the neonate was more susceptible to the effects of dietary erucic acid (22∶1n−9) than the adult. Newborn piglets were used to assess the safety of different levels of 22∶1n−9 on lipid and histological changes in the heart. Newborn piglets showed no myocardial lipidosis as assessed by oil red 0 staining, but lipidosis appeared with consumption of sow milk and disappeared by seven days of age. Milk replacer diets containing soybean oil, or rapeseed oil mixtures with up to 5% 22∶1n−9 in the oil, or 1.25% in the diet, gave trace myocardial lipidosis. Rapeseed oil mixtures with 7 to 42.9% 22∶1n−9 showed definite myocardial lipidosis in newborn piglets, which correlated to dietary 22∶1n−9, showing a maximum after one week on diet. The severity of the lipidosis was greater than observed previously with weaned pigs. There were no significant differences among diets in cardiac lipid classes except for triacylglycerol (TAG), which increased in piglets fed a repeseed oil with 42.9% 22∶1n−9. TAG showed the highest incorporation of 22∶1n−9, the concentration of 22∶1n−9 in TAG was similar to that present in the dietary oil. Among the cardiac phospholipids, sphingomyelin and phosphatidylserine had the highest, and diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) the lowest level of 22∶1n−9. The low content of 22∶1n−9 in DPG of newborn piglets is not observed in weaned pigs and rats fed high erucic acid rapeseed oil. The relative concentration of saturated fatty acids was lowered in all cardiac phospholipids of piglets fed rapeseed oils, possibly due to the low content of saturated fatty acids in rapeseed oils. The results suggest that piglets fed up to 750 mg 22∶1n−9/kg body weight/day showed no adverse nutritional or cardiac effects.     

Lipid class and fatty acid composition of the boreal soft coral Gersemia rubiformis

Total lipid, phospholipid, and FA composition and distribution of FA between polar lipids (PL) and neutral lipids (NL) were investigated in the boreal soft coral Gersemia rubiformis from the Bering Sea. The total lipids were mostly hydrocarbons and waxes (33.7%) and PL (33.1%). The content of monoalkyldiacylglycerols (9.7%) exceeded the content of TAG (6.7%). PC and PE constituted 31.4% and 25.6% of total phospholipids, respectively. Principal FA were 16∶0, 16∶1n−7, 18∶0, 18∶1n−9, 18∶1n−7, 20∶1n−7, 20∶4n−6, 20∶4n−3, 20∶5n−3 22∶5n−3, 22∶6n−3, 24∶5n−6, and 24∶6n−3. Most n−6 PUFA (52% of total FA) were associated with the PL fraction; this was especially true for arachidonic and tetracosapentaenoic acids. The NL were enriched with mono-, di-, trienoic, and n−3 PUFA. The variation in EPA levels in both NL and PL suggests an origin of this acid from lipids of diatoms consumed by the corals.     

High dietary 18∶3n−3 increases the 18∶3n−3 but not the 22∶6n−3 content in the whole body, brain, skin, epididymal fat pads, and muscles of suckling rat pups

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that increasing maternal dietary 18∶3n−3 by decreasing the 18∶2n−6/18∶3n−3 ratio will increase the 18∶3n−3 and 22∶6n−3 content of the whole body, liver, skin (epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue), epididymal fat pads, and muscles (arms and legs) of 2-wk-old rat pups. Sprague-Dawley dams at parturition were fed semipurified diets containing either a low (18∶2n−6 to 18∶3n−3 ratio of 24.7∶1) or a high (18∶2n−6 to 18∶3n−3 ratio of 1.0∶1) 18∶3n−3 fatty acid content. During the first 2 wk of life, rat pups received only their dams' milk. Fatty acid composition of the pups' stomach contents (dams' milk), whole body, brain, liver, skin, epididymal fat pads, and muscles was determined. The stomach fatty acid composition of 18∶3n−3 reflected the dams' diet. The content of 18∶3n−3 in whole body, brain, liver, skin, epididymal fat pads, and muscles was significantly (P<0.05) greater in rat pups fed the high compared with the low 18∶3n−3 fatty acid diet. The 22∶6n−3 content of the whole body, brain, skin, epididymal fat pads, and muscles was not quantitatively different in rat pups fed either the low or high 18∶3n−3 fatty acid diet. The 20∶5n−3 and 22∶5n−3 content of the whole body, skin, and epididymal fat pads was significantly increased in rat pups fed the high compared with the low 18∶3n−3 fatty acid diet. High content of 18∶3n−3 was found in the skin of rat pups fed either a low or high 18∶3n−3 fatty acid diet. These findings demonstrate that high maternal dietary 18∶3n−3 significantly increases the 18∶3n−3 but not the 22∶6n−3 content of the whole body, brain, skin, epididymal fat pads, and muscles with approximately 39 and 41% of the whole body 18∶3n−3 content being deposited in the skin of suckling rat pups fed either the low or high 18∶3n−3 diet, respectively.     

Influence of temperature and high dietary linoleic acid content on esterification,elongation, and desaturation of PUFA in atlantic salmon hepatocytes

The esterification, desaturation, and elongation of [1-¹⁴C]18∶3n−3, [1-¹⁴C]18∶2n−6, and [1-¹⁴C]20∶5n−3 at 5 and at 12°C were studied using cultivated hepatocytes from Atlantic salmon. The salmon were fed diets, in which 0, 50, or 100% of the supplementary fish oil had been replaced by soybean oil, for 950 day-degrees at 5 and 12°C. The endogenous percentage of 18∶2n−6 in hepatocyte lipids was 2% in cells from fish fed a diet with 100% of the supplemental lipid from fish oil, and it was slightly less than 25% in cells from fish fed the diet with 100% of the supplemental lipid from soybean oil. Furthermore, the percentages of 20∶3n−6 and 20∶4n−6 were significantly higher in hepatocytes from fish fed on soybean oil than they were in those of fish fed on fish oil. The percentages of 20∶5n−3 and 22∶6n−3, on the other hand, were lower. The endogenous levels of n−6 FA were not significantly correlated with the total amounts of radiolabeled FA esterified in hepatocyte lipids. The main radiolabeled products formed from 18∶2n−6 were 20∶2n−6 and 20∶3n−6. The level of the important eicosanoid precursor 20∶4n−6 was twice as high in hepatocyte phospholipids from fish fed the 100% soybean oil diet as it was in hepatocytes from fish fed the diet with 100% of supplemental lipid from fish oil. The main products formed from 18∶3n−3 were 20∶4n−3, 20∶5n−3, and 22∶6n−3. High levels of dietary 18∶2n−6 do allow, or even seem to increase, the production of 22∶6n−3 from 18∶3n−3 in hepatocytes. The main products formed from 20∶5n−3 were 22∶5n−3 and 22∶6n−3. The production of 22∶6n−3 from 20∶5n−3 was higher at 5°C than at 12°C. The percentage of 24∶5n−3 was higher at 5°C than it was at 12°C, as was the ratio of 24∶5 to 22∶5. These results suggest that the elongation rate of 22∶5n−3 to 24∶5n−3 is higher at the lower temperature.     

Accumulation of (n−9)-eicosatrienoic and docosatrienoic acids in human fibroblast phospholipids

An essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency-like profile of fatty acids has been observed in HF-1 human skin fibro-blasts cultured at clonal densities in MCDB 110 and 0.4% fetal bovine serum (FBS). The profile was characterized by an accumulation of 16∶1n−7, 18∶1n−9, 20∶3n−9 and 22∶3n−9, a reduction of n−6 fatty acids and a reduction in total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The fatty acid composition of sphingomyelin (SPH), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) was determined and, except for SPH, each displayed an EFA deficiency-like profile. The triene to tetraene ratio (20∶3n−9/20∶4n−6) ranged from 5.3 in PI to 0.9 in PE. In addition, the highest percentage of 20∶3n−9 was present in the PI and the highest percentage of 22∶3n−9, in PE. Other human fibroblasts (normal, transformed and at different population doubling number levels [PDL] were grown under the same conditions and were found to display triene to tetraene ratios (20∶3n−9/20∶4n−6) in total cellular lipids ranging from 0.7 to 4.5. The accumulation of 20∶3n−9 and 22∶3n−9 is due primarily to the existence of a basal nutrient medium (MCDB 110) that allows for the rapid clonal growth of human fibroblasts at reduced serum levels (0.4%). This culture procedure can be exploited to further elucidate various aspects of lipid metabolism in human fibroblasts. Fatty acids are abbreviated as number of carbon atoms: number of double bonds, followed by an n-number to designate the position of the first double bond with respect to the methyl carbon. Thus, Mead acid is 20∶3n−9 and its elongation product is 22∶3n−9.     

Fatty acid profiles and relative mobilization during fasting in adipose tissue depots of the American marten (Martes americana)

The American marten (Martes americana) is a boreal forest marten with low body adiposity but high metabolic rate. The study describes the FA composition in white adipose tissue depots of the species and the influence of food deprivation on them. American marten (n=8) were fasted for 2 d with 7 control animals. Fasting resulted in a 13.4% weight loss, while the relative fat mass was >25% lower in the fasted animals. The FA composition of the fat depots of the trunk was quite similar to other previously studied mustelids with 14∶0, 16∶0, 18∶0, 16∶1n−7, 18∶1n−9, and 18∶2n−6 as the most abundant FA. In the extremities, there were higher proportions of monounsaturated FA (MUFA) and PUFA. Food deprivation decreased the proportions of 16∶0 and 16∶1n−7, while the proportion of long-chain MUFA increased in the trunk. The mobilization of FA was selective, as 16∶1n−7, 18∶1n−9, and particular n−3 PUFA were preferentially mobilized. Relative mobilization correlated negatively with the carbon chain length in saturated FA (SFA) and n−9 MUFA. The Δ9 desaturation of SFA enhanced the mobilization of the corresponding MUFA, but the positional isomerism of the first double bond did not correlate consistently with relative mobilization in MUFA or PUFA. In the marten, the FA composition of the extremities was highly resistant to fasting, and the tail tip and the paws contained more long-chain PUFA to prevent the solidification of lipids and to maintain cell membrane fluidity during cooling.     

Phospholipid molecular species composition of developing fetal guinea pig brain

Adequate accumulation of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids, in particular docosahexaenoic acid (22∶6n−3), into membrane phospholipids is critical for optimal fetal brain development. This process is maximal during the period of rapid neurite outgrowth, neuritogenesis, which precedes the major growth phase, myelination. There is no information about differential changes during gestation to individual brain phospholipid molecular species which contain 22∶6n−3. Such details of brain development would be concealed by total fatty acid analysis of isolated phospholipid classes. We have detailed phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) molecular species compositions in developing fetal guinea pig brain. Total brain PC concentration increased substantially between 40 and 68 (term) d of gestation, corresponding to myelination, while PE increased in a biphasic manner between 25–35 d, which was coincident with onset of neuritogenesis, and 40–68 d. Fetal brain development was accompanied by complex changes in the concentration of individual phospholipid molecular species. During early gestation (25–40 d) 22∶6n−3 was enriched in both PC and PEsn−1 16∶0 molecular species. However, between 40 d and term there was no further increase in brain PC 22∶6n−3 content, while brain PE was significantly enriched in both PE 18∶1/22∶6 and PE18∶0/22∶6. We hypothesize that accumulation of 22∶6n−3 intosn−1 18∶1 and 18∶0 species represents establishment of a 22∶6n−3-containing membrane PE pool which may be turned over more slowly thansn−1 16∶0 species. Identification of specific changes in membrane phospholipids which are associated with defined events in brain development may provide a basis for assigning functional roles to individual molecular species.     

Phospholipid molecular species from human placenta lipids

The phospholipid molecular species from a large-scale preparation of human placenta lipids were analyzed. The major placental phospholipids were choline glycerophospholipids (CPL) (53.2 wt%), sphingomyelin (21.7 wt%) and ethanolamine glycerophospholipids (EPL) (14.6 wt%). 1,2-Diacyl-glycerophosphocholine was the most abundant subclass of CPL (91.7 mol%), while EPL contained 1,2-diacyl (54.6 mol%) and 1-alk-1′-enyl-2-acyl (43.8 mol%) subclasses. The level of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in total phospholipids was remarkably constant (38.4–39.9 mol%) within all placental batches tested. The long-chain PUFA, mainly 20∶4n−6 and 22∶6n−3 of the n−6 and n−3 series, respectively, were found in high proportion in all phospholipid classes, especially in EPL (46.7 mol%) and in inositol glycerophospholipids (IPL) (39.9 mol%). CPL and serine glycerophospholipids were much richer in 18∶1n−9 and 18∶2n−6. High levels of molecular species with arachidonic acid in thesn-2 position were found particularly in 1-alk-1′-enyl-2-acyl-glycerophospho-ethanolamine (with 24.0 mol% 16∶0 and 22.0 mol% 18∶0 insn-1 position) and in 1,2-diacyl glycerophosphoinositol with 42.6 mol% 18∶0 insn-1 position. EPL subclasses were rich in 22∶6n−3, which occurs mainly as 16∶0/22∶6n−3 (11.7 mol%) in the polasmalogen form and as 18∶0/22∶6n−3, 16∶0/22∶6n−3 and 18∶1/22∶6n−3 in the diacyl forms. Based on their availability and composition, placental phospholipids could be of interest, for example, for supplementing artificial milk preparations with n−3 and n−6 long-chain PUFA for newborn infants with insufficiently developed 18∶2n−6 and 18∶3n−3 desaturation/elongation.     

Effects of dietary n−3 and n−6 polyunsaturated fatty acids on macrophage phospholipid classes and subclasses

This study examined the effects of n−3 and n−6 polyunsaturated fatty acid alimentation on murine peritoneal macrophage phospholipids. Mice were fed complete diets supplemented with either corn oil predominantly containing 18∶2n−6, borage oil containing 18∶2n−6 and 18∶3n−6, fish/corn oil mixture containing 18∶2n−6, 20∶5n−3 and 22∶6n−3, or fish/borage oil mixture containing 18∶2n−6, 18∶3n−6, 20∶5n−3 and 22∶6n−3. After two weeks, the fatty acid levels of glycerophosphoserines (GPS), glycerophosphoinositols (GPI), sphingomyelin (SPH), and of the glycerophosphocholine (GPC) and glycerophosphoethanolamine (GPE) phospholipid subclasses were determined. We found that mouse peritoneal macrophage GPC contain primarily 1-0-alkyl-2-acyl (range for the dietary groups, 24.6–30.5 mol %) and 1,2-diacyl (63.2–67.2 mol %), and that GPE contains 1-O-alk-1-enyl-2-acyl (40.9–47.4 mol. %) and 1,2-diacyl (44.2–51.2 mol %) subclasses. In general, fish oil feeding increased macrophage 20∶5n−3, 22∶5n−3 and 22∶6n−3 levels while simultaneously reducing 20∶4n−6 in GPS, GPI, GPE and GPC subclasses except for 1-O-alk-1′-enyl-2-acyl GPC. Administration of 18∶3n−6 rich diets (borage and fish/borage mixture) resulted in the accumulation of 20∶3n−6 (2-carbon elongation product of 18∶3n−6) in most phospholipids. In general, the novel combination of dietary 18∶3n−6 and n−3 PUFA produced the highest 20∶3n−6/20∶4n−6 phospholipid fatty acid ratios. This study demonstrates that marked differences in the responses of macrophage phospholipid classes and subclasses exist following dietary manipulation. The reduction of 20∶4n−6, while simultaneously increasing 30∶3n−6 and n−3 PUFA levels, may be important in relation to the putative beneficial effects of 20∶3n−6 and fish oil on macrophage eicosanoid and platelet activating factor (PAF) biosynthesis.     

Interaction of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids with n-6 fatty acids in suckled rat pups

The addition of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP: C20, and C22) to infant formula may permit fatty acid accretion rates similar to breast-fed infants, and may have long-term outcome benefits, such as improved visual acuity and cognitive development. Although fish oil may provide a source of n-3 LCP, sources of n-6 LCP have been more difficult to identify. The present study evaluates the effects of n-3 and n-6 LCP derived from single-cell oils on liver, plasma, and brain fatty acid levels in a neonatal animal model. Newborn rat pups were suckled for 14 d by dams receiving diets containing n-3 LCP alone or combinations of n-3 LCP and increasing doses of linoleic acid (18∶2n−6) or arachidonic acid (20∶4n−6). Dietary groups received 2% n−3 LCP and 1, 2, or 5% of either 18∶2n−6 or 20∶4n−6. The 20∶4n−6 source also contained modest levels of 18∶2n−6. At the termination of the study, liver, plasma, and brain were obtained from the rat pups and the phospholipid fatty acid profiles determined. The results indicate complex interactions of n−3 and n−6 fatty acids. Groups receiving dietary 20∶4n−6 incorporated higher levels of n−6 LCP into tissues than did the groups receiving 18∶2n−6. The brain was relatively resistant to changes in fatty acid composition compared with the liver and plasma. As expected, tissue n−3 LCP levels were reciprocally related to n−6 levels. The present results document that single-cell LCP oils are bioavailable in a neonatal animal model. The use of 20∶4n−6 is a more effective means of supporting n−6 status than the use of 18∶2n−6. These results may have implications for the addition of LCP to infant formula.     

Effect of dietary docosahexaenoic acid on desaturation and uptake in vivo of isotope-labeled oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids by male subjects

The effect of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (22∶6n−3, DHA) on the metabolism of oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids was investigated in male subjects (n=6) confined to a metabolic unit and fed diets containing 6.5 or <0.1 g/d of DHA for 90 d. At the end of the diet period, the subjects were fed a mixture of deuterated triglycerides containing 18∶1n−9[d6], 18∶2n−6[d2], and 18∶3n−3[d4]. Blood samples were drawn at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. Methyl esters of plasma total lipids, triglycerides, phospholipids, and cholesterol esters were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Chylomicron triglyceride results show that the deuterated fatty acids were equally well absorbed and diet did not influence absorption. Compared to the low-DHA diet (LO-DHA), clearance of the labeled fatty acids from chylomicron triglycerides was modestly higher for subjects fed the high DHA diet (HI-DHA). DHA supplementation significantly reduced the concentrations of most n-6[d2] and n-3[d4] long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) metabolites in plasma lipids. Accumulation of 20∶5n−3[d4] and 22∶6n−3[d4] was depressed by 76 and 88%, respectively. Accumulations of 20∶3n−6[d2] and 20∶4n−6[d2] were both decreased by 72%. No effect of diet was observed on acyltransferase selectivity or on uptake and clearance of 18∶1n−9[d6], 18∶2n−6[d2], and 18∶3n−3[d4]. The results indicate that accumulation of n−3 LCFA metabolites synthesized from 18∶3n−3 in typical U.S. diets would be reduced from about 120 to 30 mg/d by supplementation with 6.5 g/d of DHA. Accumulation of n−6 LCFA metabolites synthesized from 18∶2n−6 in U.S. diets is estimated to be reduced from about 800 to 180 mg/d. This decrease is two to three times the amount of n−6 LCFA in a typical U.S. diet. These results support the hypothesis that health benefits associated with DHA supplementation are the combined result of reduced accretion of n−6 LCFA metabolites and an increase in n−3 LCFA levels in tissue lipids.     

Effect of tetracosahexaenoic acid on the content and release of histamine, and eicosanoid production in MC/9 mouse mast cell

6,9,12,15,18,21-Tetracosahexaenoic acid (24∶6n−3) was isolated from a brittle star, Ophiura sarsi Lütken, at>95% purity to evaluate its physiological functions. The effects of 24∶6n−3 on the production of leukotriene (LT)-related compounds such as LTB₄, LTC₄ and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, and the accumulation and release of histamine in an MC/9 mouse mast cell line were studied. We found that 24∶6n−3 could inhibit the antigen-stimulated production of LT-related compounds as well as other n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (20∶5n−3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22∶6n−3), which are major n−3 PUFA in fish oils; 24∶6n−3 was also shown to reduce the histamine content in MC/9 cells at 25 μM (27% reduction from the control), and the effect was diminished with increase of the fatty acid concentration (up to 100 μM). These two n−3 PUFA, 20∶5n−3 and 22∶6n−3, also reduced the histamine content (16 and 20% reduction at 25 μM, respectively), whereas arachidonic acid (20∶4n−6) increased it (18% increase at 25 μM). Spontaneous- and antigen-induced release of histamine was not influenced with these PUFA (at 25 μM). Ionophore-stimulated release of histamine was suppressed by the PUFA (13,9,15, and 11% reduction with 20∶4n−6, 20∶5n−3, 22∶6n−3, and 24∶6n−3, respectively). The patterns of the effects of 24∶6n−3 on the synthesis of eicosanoids and histamine content were more similar to those of 22∶6n−3 than 20∶5n−3. From these results, 24∶6n−3 can be expected to have anti-inflammatory activity and antiallergic activities similar to those of 22∶6n−3.     

Fatty acids and fatty alcohols of wax esters in the orange roughy: Specific textures of minor polyunsaturated and branched-chain components

Open-tubular gas chromatography was carried out on fatty acids and alcohols obtained from wax esters of the orange roughy,Hoplostethus atlanticus, caught at sea off New Zealand. The major (above 5%) components were 16∶1(n−7), 18∶1(n−9) and (n−7), 20∶1(n−9) and (n−7), and 22∶1(n−11, n−13) as fatty acids, and 16∶0, 18∶0, 18∶1(n−9), 20∶1(n−9) and (n−7), and 22∶1(n−11, n−13) as fatty alcohols. The total percentages of the minor components were 10% in the acids and 26% in the alcohols. The 22∶1/20∶1 ratio of the fatty alcohols obtained in this study was less than 1.0, although the ratio for the Atlantic orange roughy has been reported as being greater than 1.0. The contents of polyenes were as low as 2.48% in the acids and 0.95% in the alcohols, but their compositions showed some specific features. The percentages of the C₁₆−C₂₂ dienes in the total polyenes were remarkably high, 57.7% of these acids and 53.1% of these alcohols. The most important dienes were 18∶2(n−6) in the acids and 20∶2(n−6) in the alcohols.     

Effects of dietary saturated fat on erucic acid induced myocardial lipidosis in rats

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed for one week diets containing 20% by weight fat/oil mixtures with different levels of erucic acid (22∶1n−9) (∼2.5 or 9%) and total saturated fatty acids (∼8 or 35%). Corn oil and high erucic acid rapeseed (HEAR) oil were fed as controls. The same hearts were evaluated histologically using oil red O staining and chemically for cardiac triacylglycerol (TAG) and 22∶1n−9 content in cardiac TAG to compare the three methods for assessing lipid accumulation in rat hearts. Rats fed corn oil showed trace myocardial lipidosis by staining, and a cardiac TAG content of 3.6 mg/g wet weight in the absence of dietary 22∶1n−9. An increase in dietary 22∶1n−9 resulted in significantly increased myocardial lipidosis as assessed histologically and by an accumulation of 22∶1n−9 in heart lipids; there was no increase in cardiac TAG except when HEAR oil was fed. An increase in saturated fatty acids showed no changes in myocardial lipid content assessed histologically, the content of cardiac TAG or the 22∶1n−9 content of TAG at either 2.5 or 9% dietary 22∶1n−9. The histological staining method was more significantly correlated to 22∶1n−9 in cardiac TAG (r=0.49;P<0.001) than to total cardiac TAG (r=0.40;P<0.05). The 22∶1n−9 content was highest in cardiac TAG and free fatty acids. Among the cardiac phospholipids, the highest incorporation was observed into phosphatidylserine, followed by sphingomyelin. With the addition of saturated fat, the fatty acid composition showed decreased accumulation of 22∶1n−9 and increased levels of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids in most cardiac phospholipids, despite decreased dietary concentrations of their precursor fatty acids, linoleic and linolenic acids.     

Lymphatic recovery of exogenous oleic acid in rats on long chain or specific structured triacylglycerol diets

Specific structured triacylglycerols, MLM (M=medium-chain fatty acid, L=long-chain fatty acid), rapidly deliver energy and long-chain fatty acids to the body and are used for longer periods in human enteral feeding. In the present study rats were fed diets of 10 wt% MLM or LLL (L=oleic acid [18∶1n−9], M=caprylic acid [8∶0]) for 2 wk. Then lymph was collected 24 h following administration of a single bolus of ¹³C-labeled MLM or LLL. The total lymphatic recovery of exogenous 18∶1n−9 24 h after administration of a single bolus of MLM or LLL was similar in rats on the LLL diet (43% and 45%, respectively). However, the recovery of exogenous 18∶1n−9 was higher after a single bolus of MLM compared with a bolus of LLL in rats on the MLM diet (40% and 24%, respectively, P=0.009). The recovery of lymphatic 18∶1n−9 of the LLL bolus tended to depend on the diet triacylglycerol structure and composition (P=0.07). This study demonstrated that with a diet containing specific structured triacylglycerol, the lymphatic recovery of 18∶1n−9 after a single bolus of fat was dependent on the triacylglycerol structure of the bolus. This indicates that the lymphatic recovery of long-chain fatty acids from a single meal depends on the overall long-chain fatty acid composition of the habitual diet. This could have implications for enteral feeding for longer periods.     

Fatty chain compositon of ether and ester glycerophospholipids in the Japanese oysterCrassostrea gigas (Thunberg)

The fatty chain compositions of 1-O-alk-1′-enyl-2-acyl, 1-0-alkyl-2-acyl, and 1,2-diacyl glycerophospholipids of the Japanese oysterCrassostrea gigas (Thunberg) were investigated. Major fatty chains in thesn-1 position of 1-alk-1′-enyl-2-acyl ethanolamine phospholipids (EPL) were 18∶0 (64.7%) and 20∶1 (11.1%). Majorsn-1 chains of alkenylacyl choline phospholipids (CPL) were 18∶0 (63.3%) and 16∶0 (22.2%). In the case of 1-alkyl-2-acyl EPL, the predominant fatty chains in thesn-1 position were 18∶0 (51.5%), 16∶0 (16.0%) and 20∶1 (12.5%); in the case of 1-alkyl-2-acyl CPL, the majorsn-1 chains were 16∶0 (44.0%) and 14∶0 (23.4%). Saturated fatty chains were predominant in both EPL and CPL. Prominent fatty acids in thesn-2 position of the alkenylacyl EPL were 22∶6n−3 (29.0%), 20∶5n−3 (19.0%) and 22∶2 NMID (non-methylene interrupted dienes, 16.6%) contributing to about 65% of the total fatty acids, while alkenylacyl CPL was rich in the saturated acids 16∶0 (32.0%) and 18∶0 (9.2%). In the alkylacyl EPL, 16∶0, 18∶1n−9, 18∶0 and 16∶1n−7 were prominentsn-2 fatty acids and accounted for 30.6%, 10.0%, 9.8%, and 8.3%, respectively. Polyunsaturated fatty acids were detected, but were present at extremely low percentages. Majorsn-2 fatty acids in alkylacyl CPL were 16∶0 (25.4%), 22∶6n−3 (16.0%) and 20∶5n−3 (8.4%). The major fatty acids of diacyl EPL were 20∶5n−3 (22.3%), 16∶0 (17.9%), and 18∶0 (16.1%), and those of diacyl CPL were 16∶0 (30.4%), 20∶5n−3 (17.6%) and 18∶1n−7 (7.4%).     

Incorporation ofcis-octadecenoic acids into the rat liver mitochondrial membrane phospholipids and adipose tissue triglycerides

The incorporation of the dietarycis 18∶1 (n−12) andcis 18∶1 (n−10) into liver mitochondrial membrane phospholipids and adipose tissue trigly cerides was studied in 4 groups of rats fed diets containing 10 weight percent (wt%) of fat with the following contents of octadecenoic acids: 50%cis 18∶1(n−12) +9%cis 18∶1 (n−9); 25%cis 18∶1 (n−12)+32%cis 18∶1 (n−9); 50%cis 18∶1 (n−10)+10%cis 18∶1 (n−9); or 54%cis 18∶1 (n−9). Dietary linoleic acid was 3 wt% in all 4 groups. In the mitochondrial membranes, the isomeric octadecenoic acids were primarily incorporated into the 1-position of phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylethanolamines at the expense of saturated fatty acids. The maximal incorporations observed in the 1-position of phosphatidylethanolamines were 4.8% 18∶1 (n−12) and 8.9% 18∶1 (n−10). No effects on the contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the phospholipids were seen. In the adipose tissue, the isomeric octadecenoic acids were incorporated at a level of 13%cis 18∶1 (n−12) or 23%cis 18∶1 (n−10), paralleled by a reduction in the content of oleic acid. Presented in part at the 9th Scandinavian Symposium on Lipids, Visby, Sweden, June 1977.