Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids In Liver Research Articles

Dietary α-Linolenic and Linoleic Acids Competitively Affect Metabolism of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Arctic Charr (Salvelinus alpinus)

We investigated the effects of various levels of dietary 18:2(n-6) (linoleic acid) and 18: 3(n-3) (alpha-linolenic acid) on the growth, feeding, body composition and metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids in liver and muscle of Arctic charr. Fish were fed 8 or 12 casein-based semipurified diets in two separate experiments for 12 or 14 wk, respectively. Low levels of dietary 18:2(n-6) and 18:3(n-3) supplemented with pure methyl esters or linseed (flax) oil had an additive effect on fish growth. For each 100 g of diet, the addition of 1.6-1.7 g of 18:3(n-3) and 2.6 g of 18:2(n-6) led to significantly lower fish growth compared with the treatment diets with lower amounts of 18:2(n-6). Whereas 18:2(n-6) was converted to 20:4(n-6) and 22: 5(n-6) in the absence or presence of dietary 18: 3(n-3), the dominant product of 18:3(n-3) conversion was consistently 22:6(n-3). High levels of dietary 18: 3(n-3) markedly inhibited the conversion of 18:2(n-6), whereas the inhibition of dietary 18:2(n-6) on 18: 3(n-3) conversion was noted only when the ratio of dietary 18:2(n-6) to 18:3(n-3) changed from 1.0 to 1.5. Feeding diets rich in 18:3(n-3) led to a marked accumulation of 18:3(n-3) and 18:4(n-3) in fish muscle but a negligible change in 20:5(n-3) and 22:6(n-3), regardless of the level of 18:3(n-3) in the diets.

Changes in adrenal gland and liver polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis in hypercholesterolemic rats

The effect of 2% (w/w) cholesterol supplementation of an otherwise balanced diet on polyunsaturated-fatty-acid metabolism was studied in the liver and adrenal microsomes and in cells isolated from the adrenal glands of rats. Dietary cholesterol feeding enhanced Δ9 desaturation activity and decreased Δ6 and Δ5 desaturation activity in adrenal microsomes. The acyl-CoA synthetase activity with long-chain fatty-acid substrates [18:0, 18:2(n-6), 18:3(n-3) and 20:3(n-6) decreased both in liver and adrenal microsomes of the rats fed with cholesterol. The total fatty-acid composition of the plasma and the liver microsomes of the cholesterolfed rats agreed with the desaturase activities. No parallel effect between desaturase activities and fatty acid composition was obtained in adrenal microsomes. The high cholesterol feeding futhermore increased the 1,6-diphenyl-1, 3,5-hexatriene steadystate fluorescence anisotropy in the liver and adrenal microsomes. Adrenal cells isolated from cholesterol-fed rats showed a marked disminution in arachidonic-acid biosynthesis as compared to the controls. However, the elongation of 20:4(n-6) to docosatetraenoic acid (n-6) in adrenal gland cells was not different between two groups. These experiments demostrated that dietary cholesterol altered the uptake and the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the adrenal gland and liver.

Effects of dietary lead, fish oil, and ethoxyquin on hepatic fatty acid composition in chicks

Three experiments were conducted with day-old broiler chicks reared to 18 or 19 d of age. The objective was to examine the effects of dietary oil (cottonseed oil vs fish oil), dietary antioxidant (0 vs 75 ppm ethoxyquin), and dietary lead (0 vs 1000 ppm Pb as lead acetate trihydrate) on hepatic fatty acid composition. A 2×2 factorial arrangement was used in all experiments. In Experiment 1, the factors were oil (4% of each) and Pb. In Experiments 2 and 3, the factors were ethoxyquin and Pb in diets containing 3.5% cottonseed oil (Experiment 2) or 3.5% fish oil (Experiment 3). Hepatic fatty acid profiles were measured by gas-liquid chromatography in 10 chicks/treatment (Experiment 1) or 4 chicks/treatment (Experiments 2 and 3). Dietary oils altered the profiles, with cottonseed oil producing the higher values for linoleic acid (18∶2) and arachidonic acid (20∶4). With fish oil, in addition to the lower levels of 18∶2 and 20∶4, there were significant levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (20∶5) and docosahexaenoic acid (22∶6). Pb enhanced the levels of 20∶4, but the effect was greater with cottonseed oil diets compared with fish oil diets. The enhanced 20∶4 levels resulted in lower ratios of 18∶2/20∶4. Ethoxyquin enhanced the level of 18∶2 with the cottonseed oil diet, and of 20∶5 and 22∶6 with the fish oil diet. Ethoxyquin decreased the level of hepatic 20∶4 when fish oil was fed. The results clearly show that all three factors (oil type, Pb level, and ethoxyquin level) after hepatic fatty acid composition. Both oil source and Pb level appeared to exert an effect on the metabolic conversion of 18∶2 and 20∶4. The primary effect of ethoxyquin was to enhance the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in liver. The data do not allow the partitioning of possible ethoxyquin effects to protection of polyunsaturated acids in feed vs protection of polyunsaturated acids in liver tissue.

Effects of Diet on Responses to Hypoxia in Sturgeon (Acipenser Naccarii)

ABSTRACT We investigated the effects of a diet enriched in omega-3 (ω3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and vitamin E on responses of sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii) to hypoxia. After 3 months of feeding, there were significant increases in ω3 PUFA in liver and muscle, and of vitamin E in muscle, of fish fed the enriched diet (ED) compared with fish on a standard diet (SD), indicating that tissue composition is influenced by diet. Acute exposure to hypoxia (10 min at 10.8 kPa water O2 tension, ) had no effect on oxygen consumption , increased gill ventilation frequency (fg) and reduced arterial blood O2 content in both dietary groups, but ED sturgeon exhibited a significantly smaller decrease in than did SD animals. Progressive hypoxic exposure ( decreasing gradually from 20.5 to 3.6kPa within 45–60min) led to a significant increase in at intermediate levels of in SD sturgeon that was not seen in ED animals. Furthermore, ED sturgeon showed no significant reduction in arterial plasma pH (pHa) and at levels that caused significant reductions in these variables in SD sturgeon. ED sturgeon exhibited a smaller increase in plasma lactate level than did SD fish. We suggest that PUFA and/or vitamin E contribute significantly to regulation of metabolism in hypoxia.

Stress Modulates Cholesterol-Induced Changes in Plasma and Liver Fatty Acid Composition in Rats Fed N-6 Fatty Acid-Rich Oils

The effects of dietary cholesterol (CH) and isolation stress on fatty acid compositions of plasma and liver cholesteryl ester and phospholipids were compared in growing rats fed an 18:2n-6 or an 18:3n-6 enriched semisynthetic diet for 2 weeks. Stress, CH-feeding, and dietary fats had no significant effects on plasma CH level, but CH-feeding alone elevated the liver CH concentrations. CH-feeding also modulated the liver polyunsaturated fatty acid compositions, i.e., increasing 18:2n-6 levels, and reducing 20:4n-6 levels, indicating an inhibition of the enzymes, delta-6 and delta-5-desaturases. The extent of these changes was less in rats fed 18:3n-6 than in those fed 18:2n-6. Stress, which alone had no significant effects on plasma and liver fatty acid compositions, attenuated the CH-induced changes of fatty acid levels.

Effect of diet on animal performance, lipid composition of subcutaneous adipose and liver tissue of beef cattle

Two trials were carried out with Brahman beef cattle to study animal performance and carcass characteristics as well as fatty acid composition of subcutaneous adipose and hepatic tissue, as influence by length of grain feeding period or a pasturing regimen. In trial 1, steers were allotted to three feedlot finishing periods (76, 104 and 146 days) after being backgrounded on pasture. Steers fed 76 days had greater average daily gains (P < 0·05) than steers fed 146 and 104 days, respectively. Carcasses of steers slaughtered after 146 days on feed had higher (P < 0·05) marbling scores, quality grades, fat over ribeye, quality yield and per cent kidney, pelvic and heart (KPH) fat than steers fed for 104 and 76 days. The proprortions of certain fatty acid of subcutaneous fat and liver tissue were influenced by the length of grain feeding. There was a marked increased in the proportion of oleic acid in both tissues as the steers remained longer in the feedlot and a higher percentage of total saturated fatty acids at 76 days than at the other two times. Quantitative separation of hepatic lipid classes by the Iatroscan revealed that phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were the main components of the phospholipids. Presents as minor components were cardiolipin and sphingomyelin. No differences (P > 0.·05) in these individual subclasses of liver lipids or in triglycerides were observed between the feedlot groups. Liver polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were higher (P < 0·001) at 104 than 76 days. In trial 2, steers fed a concentrate diet gained faster (P < 0·05) than the pasture group after 138 days. Marbling scores, yield grade, quality grade, fat over ribeye and per cent KPH were higher (P < 0·01) for the concentrate group while fat color scores were higher (P < 0·01) for the pasture group. Liver fatty acid analysis of summed ω6 PUFAs of triglyceride, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine were higher for the feedlot than the pasture group. Linoleic acid was higher (P < 0·05) in the TG and PC liver subclass of the feedlot animals while higher (P < 0·05) linolenic acid occurred in the pasture group.

The effects of dietary cholesterol on blood and liver polyunsaturated fatty acids and on plasma cholesterol in rats fed various types of fatty acid diet.

Male rats were fed on a fat-free diet for 8 weeks and then switched to diets containing 10% hydrogenated coconut oil (HCO), safflower oil (SFO) or evening primrose oil (EPO). Half of each group was also given 1% of cholesterol in the diet. After 5 further weeks, plasma, red cell and liver fatty acids were measured in the various lipid fractions. Plasma and liver cholesterol also were estimated. In almost all fractions and on all three diets, feeding cholesterol led to accumulation of the substrates of desaturation reactions and to deficits of the products of these reactions. The results were consistent with inhibition of delta-6, delta-5 and delta-4 desaturation of n-6 essential fatty acids. Since the diets were deficient in n-3 fatty acids, levels were very low but were also consistent with inhibition of desaturation. In contrast, cholesterol had relatively less consistent effects on 20:3n-9, suggesting that desaturation of n-9 fatty acids was less inhibited. Plasma cholesterol levels rose sharply in the HCO and SFO groups but not at all in the EPO group. EPO contains the product of delta-6-desaturation, 18:3n-6, suggesting that conversion of linoleic acid to 18:3n-6 and possibly to further metabolites may be important for the cholesterol-lowering effect of polyunsaturates.

Effects of vitamin E deficiency on total polyunsaturated fatty acids in rats and chicks.

1. The total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content of tissues of vitamin E-deficient rats and chicks has been measured by the lipoxidase method.2. Vitamin E deficiency did not depress total PUFA in rat liver, kidney, heart, spleen, brain, adrenal and adipose tissue during experimental periods up to 13 months.3. Liver PUFA was not depressed by deficiency of vitamin E and selenium in rats at 9 weeks or 8 months of age.4. Rats given a muscular dystrophy-producing diet (containing oxidized cod-liver oil) showed a severe depletion of PUFA in muscle, but not in kidney or adipose tissue.5. Exudative diathesis induced in chicks by a deficiency of vitamin E and Se did not depress liver PUFA.6. It is considered that in vitamin E deficiency there is no general decrease in PUFA due to peroxidative loss. Changes of a more specific nature occur, as found by other workers.