Influence of dietary partially hydrogenated vegetable and marine oils on membrane composition and function of liver microsomes and platelets in the rat

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of partially hydrogenated vegetable and marine oils on membrane composition and function of liver microsomes and platelets with particular reference to the metabolism of linoleic acid and the production of arachidonic acid metabolites. Four groups of male weanling rats were fed linoleic acid supplemented diets containing 20% (w/w) of partially hydrogenated low erucic acid rapeseed oil (HLRSO), partially hydrogenated herring oil (HHO), olive oil (OO) and trierucin + triolein (TE) for 10 weeks. An additional two groups were fed partially hydrogenated low erucic acid rapeseed oil and partially hydrogenated herring oil without linoleic acid supplementation (HLRSO- and HHO-, respectively). Substantial amounts oftrans fatty acids were incorporated into liver microsomes (12.6% in group HLRSO) and platelets (7.0% in group HLRSO-). This incorporation was not dependent on the dietary linoleic acid level. Hepatic microsomal Δ⁵-desaturase activity was significantly increased after HLRSO feeding compared to OO feeding. Δ⁶-Desaturase activity did not vary in the linoleic acid supplemented groups. Both Δ⁵- and Δ⁶-desaturase activities were significantly increased in groups without linoleic acid supplementation. Docosenoic acid was incorporated into platelet phospholipids in contrast to liver microsomes. In the platelet, docosenoic acid seemed to have a special preference for phosphatidylserine. Very small amounts were incorporated into platelet phosphatidylinositol. Feeding diets HLRSO, HHO and OO did not influence rat platelet cyclooxygenase or 12-lipoxygenase activity. Platelets from rats fed TE, however, produced significantly less 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) than platelets from rats fed OO. Feeding of HLRSO- and HHO- resulted in a significantly diminished production of the arachidonic acid metabolites 12-HETE, 12-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F_1α in stimulated platelets and aorta. Thus, high dietary levels oftrans isomers of monoenoic acids do not interfere with platelet cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase activity provided sufficient amounts of linoleic acid are available.