Effects of Various Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Blood Cholesterol and Eicosanoids in Rats

The hypocholesterolemic efficacy of various polyunsaturated fatty acids was compared in rats given cholesterol-enriched diets with (0.004%) or without indomethacin, the cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Evening primrose oil (EPO, linoleic+ γ-linolenic), safflower oil (SFO, linoleic) or soybean oil (SBO, linoleic + α-linolenic) were added to diets at the 10% level. The serum cholesterol level of the EPO group was consistently lower than the other groups and after 3 weeks, it was significantly different from the SFO group without indomethacin and the SBO group with indomethacin. In rats fed EPO, the aorta tended to produce more prostacyclin whereas the concentration of plasma thromboxane B₂ was much lower than in rats fed SFO or SBO. The effects of indomethacin on these eicosanoids were less evident in rats fed EPO. Thus, in addition to the hypocholesterolemic action of β-linolenic acid (GLA) in preference to linoleic and possibly α-linolenic acid, GLA appears to cultivate an environment suitable for the prevention of carbiovascular disease even in the presence of excess cholesterol in the diet.     

Manganese Supplementation Reduces the Blood Cholesterol Levels in Ca-Deficient Ovariectomized Rats

Manganese (Mn) is an essential element for normal development and bodily functions in humans. In the present study, we examined whether Mn supplementation can alter the serum lipid parameters and liver function in Ca-deficient ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Sixty female Sprague–Dawley rats (6 weeks) were divided into five groups and bred for 12 weeks: sham-operated control group (Sham), OVX Ca deficiency group (OLCa) with Ca-deficient diet (0.1% Ca modified AIN-93N diet), OVX Ca deficiency and Mn supplementation group (OLCaMn), OVX with adequate Ca group (OACa; 0.5% Ca AIN-93N diet), and OVX with adequate Ca and Mn supplementation group (OACaMn). A low Ca diet increased the liver weight and serum levels of GOT, GPT, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in OVX rats. Mn supplementation decreased these parameters in Ca-deficient OVX rat. The results of our study suggest Mn supplementation results in reductions of the blood cholesterol levels, which show an increase due to Ca deficiency in OVX rats.     

玉米胚SOD提取物对糖尿病大鼠血糖、血脂及血清氧化应激状态的影响

目的:探讨玉米胚SOD提取物对于糖尿病大鼠血糖及主要脏器抗氧化能力的影响.方法:成年雄性Wistar大鼠36只,随机分为以下6组:1)正常对照组;2)糖尿病模型组:腹腔注射四氧嘧啶175mg/kg,连续两天;3)二甲基双胍对照组:糖尿病模型+灌服10mg/kg盐酸二甲基双胍;4)SOD高剂量组:糖尿病模型+灌服0.3gSOD提取物;5)SOD中剂量组:糖尿病模型+灌服0.18g SOD提取物;6)SOD低剂量组:糖尿病模型+灌服0.06g SOD提取物.连续3周,动态监测血糖,血清总胆固醇和甘油三酯.45天后处死动物,提取血清,采用硫代巴比妥酸法测定脂质过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)含量;DTNB法测定还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量;黄嘌呤氧化酶法测定超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力.结果:不同剂量的玉米胚SOD提取物对四氧嘧啶所致高血糖模型大鼠具有明显的降低血糖作用,可降低血清中总胆固醇和甘油三酯.并使血清MDA水平降低,抗氧化物质GSH含量增加,SOD活力升高.结论:玉米胚SOD提取物具有一定的降低血糖、血脂功效,可能与增加机体抗氧化能力有关.     

Pancreatic Hormones,the Composition of Saturated Fatty Acids,and Their Relationship with Glucose Levels,Depending on the Body Mass Index in Residents of the Arctic

Biology Bulletin - The content of pancreatic hormones, the composition of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), and their relationship with glucose (Glu) levels depending on the body mass index (BMI) were...     

Sheep Erythrocyte Membrane Binding and Transfer of Long-Chain Fatty Acids

We have studied binding and membrane transfer rates of unsaturated long-chain fatty acids in sheep red cells, as previously done for human red cells, in order to elucidate the transport mechanism. Observed differences must be assigned to the different composition of the membrane in the two species. Equal surface areas of the membranes of the two species have similar binding capacities and affinities for palmitic-, linoleic-, oleic- and arachidonic acid at 37°C. The competitive bindings of linoleic- and arachidonic acid as well as the distribution of bound arachidonic acid on the two sides of the membrane are not different in the two species. However, the rate constants for membrane transfer in sheep are less than half of those measured previously for human ghosts. This finding is confirmed by the exchange efflux kinetics of ghosts containing albumin-bound fatty acid. Studies of sheep ghost membranes with oleic-, arachidonic- and linoleic acid reveal a proportionality between the membrane transfer rate constants and the number of fatty acid double bonds, as found previously for human ghost membrane, and the effect of double bonds is in harmony with a large negative activation entropy for diffusion through the membrane. The established replacement of lecithin by sphingomyelin with a low unsaturation fatty acid index in sheep membranes probably causes a lower transversal lipid phase fluidity. Double bonds diminish the flexibility of hydrocarbon chains and thus the large negative activation entropy of diffusion across the membrane. The smaller transfer rate constants of the three unsaturated fatty acids in sheep membranes support the hypothesis that the transfer is diffusion in protein defined annular lipid domains and not carrier mediated. Received: 24 February 1999/Revised: 10 June 1999     

He-Ne激光照射与雌激素对去卵巢雌兔血液流变性的影响

本实验将卵巢切除后的24只成年雌性兔分为4组,分别为A：卵巢切除组、B：雌激素治疗组、C：He-Ne激光血管内照射组、D：雌激素加He—Ne激光血管内照射组,分别测定其血液粘度等6项血液流变学指标。研究比较雌激素与低强度He—Ne激光血管内照射对去卵巢雌兔血液流变学的影响,为两者对绝经后妇女心血管疾病防治的临床使用提供参考。结果表明：雌激素可改善部分血液流变学指标;激光血管内照射使6项血液流变学指标均明显改善;雌激素加激光血管内照射共同作用与单独用激光血管内照射的结果大致相同。提示临床He—Ne激光血管内照射可阶段性替代雌激素应用于改善血液流变性,以便减少雌激素的剂量,降低其副作用。     

Comparative Effects of Hispidulin,Genistein, and Icariin with Estrogen on Bone Tissue in Ovariectomized Rats

Icariin, Genistein, and Hispidulin have been proven to have estrogen-like and antiosteoporotic activity and can be potentially used for the treatment of osteoporosis. The present study found that Icariin, Genistein, and Hispidulin treatments, emulating estrogen, significantly contributed to bone density. Comparative effects of Icariin, Genistein, and Hispidulin with estrogen on in ovariectomized rats were investigated. Our results showed that genistein was found to have superior bone protective effects against osteoporosis among genistein, Icariin, and Hispidulin.     

The Effects of Dietary Iron and Capsaicin on Hemoglobin,Blood Glucose,Insulin Tolerance,Cholesterol, and Triglycerides,in Healthy and Diabetic Wistar Rats

ObjectiveOur aim was to assess the effects of dietary iron, and the compound capsaicin, on hemoglobin as well as metabolic indicators including blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, and glucose tolerance.ResultsHealthy rats fed a low-iron diet exhibited significantly reduced total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, compared with rats fed a control diet. Significantly reduced blood lipid was also provoked by low dietary iron in diabetic rats, compared with those fed a control diet. Insulin, and glucose tolerance was only improved in healthy rats fed the low-iron diet. Significant increases in total cholesterol were found in diabetic rats fed a high-iron diet, compared with healthy rats fed the same diet, although no statistical differences were found for triglycerides. Hemoglobin levels, which were not statistically different in diabetic versus healthy rats fed the high-iron diet, fell when capsaicin was added. Capsaicin also provoked a fall in the level of cholesterol and triglycerides in diabetic animals, versus diabetics fed with the high iron diet alone. In conclusion, low levels of dietary iron reduced levels of serum triglycerides, hemoglobin, and cholesterol, and significantly improved insulin, and glucose tolerance in healthy rats. In contrast, a high-iron diet increased cholesterol significantly, with no significant changes to triglyceride concentrations. The addition of capsaicin to the high-iron diet (for diabetic rats) further reduced levels of hemoglobin, cholesterol, and triglycerides. These results suggest that capsaicin, may be suitable for the treatment of elevated hemoglobin, in patients.     

The Effect of Low Dose Zinc Supplementation to Serum Estrogen and Progesterone Levels in Post-menopausal Women

The objective of the present study is to investigate how low-dose zinc supplementation for 2 weeks in the post-menopausal period influences levels of estrogen and progesterone in the serum. The study registered 32 natural menopause patients, who were allocated to four groups with equal number of patients. Group 1, control group, which was not subjected to any procedure. Group 2, the group that was supplemented with 15 mg/day zinc sulfate for 2 weeks. Group 3, the group that was given hormone replacement therapy (0.625 mg estrogen?+?5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate/day) for 2 weeks. Group 4, the group that received hormone replacement therapy (0.625 mg estrogen?+?5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate/day) and zinc sulfate (15 mg/day) for 2 weeks. Blood samples were collected twice from each subject, once at the beginning of the study, and once at the end of the 4-week procedure to determine estrogen (E2) and progesterone levels. Variance analysis was employed in the statistical evaluation of data. Level of significance was set at p?<?0.05. No significant difference was found between the estrogen and progesterone levels of groups 1 and 2. Groups 3 and 4 had higher estrogen and progesterone levels than groups 1 and 2 (p?<?0.05). Estrogen and progesterone levels in groups 3 and 4 were not different. Results of the study show that low-dose zinc supplementation to post-menopausal women for 2 weeks does not have a significant effect on the concerned parameters.     

Melatonin Modulates Hippocampus NMDA Receptors, Blood and Brain Oxidative Stress Levels in Ovariectomized Rats

We investigated the effects of melatonin administration on ovariectomy-induced oxidative toxicity and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunits in the blood of rats. Thirty-two rats were studied in three groups. The first and second groups were control and ovariectomized rats. Melatonin was daily administrated to the ovariectomized rats in the third group for 30 days. Blood, brain cortical and hippocampal samples were taken from the three groups after 30 days. Brain cortical, erythrocyte and plasma lipid peroxidation (LP) levels were higher in the ovariectomized group than in controls, although the LP level was decreased in the ovariectomized group with melatonin treatment. Brain cortical and plasma concentrations of vitamins A, C and E as well as the NMDAR 2B subunit were lower in the ovariectomized group than in controls, although, except for plasma vitamin C, they were increased by the treatment. Brain cortical and erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were lower in the ovariectomized group than in controls, although erythrocyte GSH levels were higher in the melatonin group than in the ovariectomized group. Brain cortical and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity and NMDAR 2A subunit concentrations were not found to be different in all groups statistically. Oxidative stress has been proposed to explain the biological side effect of experimental menopause. Melatonin prevents experimental menopause–induced oxidative stress to strengthen antioxidant vitamin and NMDAR 2A subunit concentrations in ovariectomized rats.     

Antibacterial Activity of Long Chain Fatty Acids and the Reversal with Calcium, Magnesium, Ergocalciferol and Cholesterol

SUMMARY: Screening tests indicated that Gram positive bacteria are inhibited by long chain fatty acids. No inhibition was demonstrated with Gram negative bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for a series of the fatty acids are presented. Growth curves in the presence of linolenic acid showed increases in lag phase duration and calcium addition reversed this effect, thus indicating the arbitrary nature of the MIC values. Bactericidal studies showed lauric acid to be the most active saturated fatty acid but the activity was less than that of the C₁₈ unsaturated fatty acids. Oleic acid was more effective than elaidic acid. Calcium ions, cholesterol and ergocalciferol reversed the activities of lauric and linoleic acids but magnesium ions effectively counteracted lauric acid only. A physicochemical explanation for the relative activities has been attempted.     

Plasma and Red Blood Cell Fatty Acids in Peroxisomal Disorders

The demonstration of abnormal levels of fatty acids or plasmalogens in plasma or red blood cells is key to the diagnosis of peroxisomal disorders. We report the levels of 62 fatty acids and plasmalogens in patients with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), Zellweger syndrome (ZS), neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy (NALD), and infantile Refsum disease (IRD), both at baseline and after dietary interventions. Lorenzo's Oil therapy in X-ALD normalizes the levels of saturated very long chain fatty acids in plasma, but leads to reduced levels of omega 6 and other omega 3 fatty acids, and requires monitoring and appropriate dietary supplements. Patients with ZS, NALD and IRD have reduced levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) which can be normalized by the oral administration of microencapsulated DHA and AA.     

Effects of Estrogen on Glucose Uptake by Rat Muscle

The isolated rat diaphragm was used to study the effects of 17β-estradiol on basal and insulin-mediated glucose uptake. Rats were injected with estradiol for 2 wk in daily doses of 10 μg/100 g of body weight and were compared to untreated control animals. Estrogen treatment resulted in a 16% decrease in basal glucose uptake by diaphragm muscle as compared to controls. In contrast, in the presence of insulin, glucose uptake by muscle increased 103% above basal in estradiol-treated animals as compared to a 38% rise in the control group. The absolute rate of glucose uptake induced by insulin in the estradiol treated animals (5.8 mg/g/hr) was 22% higher than in controls. These findings were not accompanied by changes in weight gain, plasma glucose and plasma immunoreactive insulin concentrations in the treated animals. In vitro incubation of diaphragm muscle with estradiol did not have an effect on basal or insulin-mediated glucose uptake.     

被动吸烟下调大鼠卵巢雌、孕激素及其受体的表达

目的利用Wistar大鼠烟雾吸入模型,观察被动吸烟对Wistar大鼠卵巢结构的影响,检测生殖激素水平,分析生殖内分泌的变化,为提倡生育期妇女避免被动吸烟提供新的理论依据。方法建立大鼠烟雾吸入模型。32只健康雌性Wistar大鼠,鼠龄(60±5)d,每只体重200～250g,随机分为空白对照组和实验组,每组16只。实验组吸烟3个月,对照组正常饲养。3个月后处死两组大鼠。酶联免疫吸附试验方法 (enzyme linkedimmunosorbent assay,ELISA)检测雌鼠血清中雌激素(estrogen,E2)、孕激素(progesterone,P4)的水平;常规石蜡切片,免疫组织化学SP法检测各组雌鼠卵巢雌激素受体(estrogen receptor,ER)、孕激素受体(progesterone receptor,PR)的表达情况。所得数据采用SPSS软件作统计学处理分析,比较各组间差异程度。结果①酶联免疫吸附试验结果 :吸烟3个月大鼠血清E2水平比空白对照组显著降低,其浓度值比较差异有显著性;吸烟3个月大鼠血清P4水平比空白对照组显著降低,其浓度值比较差异有显著性。②免疫组织化学结果 :ER主要表达在大鼠卵巢组织的各级生长卵泡的颗粒细胞的细胞核内,呈棕黄色颗粒状分布,卵泡膜细胞和间质细胞也有少量表达。吸烟3个月的大鼠卵巢组织中ER的表达显著低于空白对照组。PR主要表达在大鼠卵巢组织卵泡的颗粒细胞的细胞质和细胞核中,呈棕黄色颗粒状分布,吸烟3个月的大鼠卵巢组织中PR的表达显著低于空白对照组。结论①成功的建立了大鼠被动吸烟模型。②被动吸烟可使大鼠血清中E2及P4水平明显降低,使大鼠卵巢中ER及PR的表达减少,提示被动吸烟可破坏卵巢的功能,引起生殖内分泌失调。     

Utilization of Uniformly Labeled 13C-Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Synthesis of Long-Chain Fatty Acids and Cholesterol Accumulating in the Neonatal Rat Brain

Abstract: Polyunsaturated fatty acids are needed for normal neonatal brain development, but the degree of conversion of the 18-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid precursors consumed in the diet to their respective 20-and 22-carbon polyunsaturates accumulating in the brain is not well known. In the present study, in vivo ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to monitor noninvasively the brain uptake and metabolism of a mixture of uniformly ¹³C-enriched 16-and 18-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters injected intragastrically into neonatal rats. In vivo NMR spectra of the rat brain at postnatal days 10 and 17 had larger fatty acid signals than in uninjected controls, but changes in levels of individual fatty acids could not be distinguished. One day after injection of the U-¹³C-polyunsaturated fatty acid mixture, ¹³C enrichment (measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry) was similar in brain phospholipids, free fatty acids, free cholesterol, and brain aqueous extract; ¹³C enrichment remained high in the phospholipids and cholesterol for 15 days. ¹³C enrichment was similar in the main fatty acids of the brain within 1 day of injection but 15 days later had declined in all except arachidonic acid while continuing to increase in docosahexaenoic acid. These changes in ¹³C enrichment in brain fatty acids paralleled the developmental changes in brain fatty acid composition. We conclude that, in the neonatal rat brain, dietary 16-and 18-carbon polyunsaturates are not only elongated and desaturated but are also utilized for de novo synthesis of long-chain saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol.     

Lysophosphatidylcholine Activates Adipocyte Glucose Uptake and Lowers Blood Glucose Levels in Murine Models of Diabetes

Glucose homeostasis is maintained by the orchestration of peripheral glucose utilization and hepatic glucose production, mainly by insulin. In this study, we found by utilizing a combined parallel chromatography mass profiling approach that lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) regulates glucose levels. LPC was found to stimulate glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes dose- and time-dependently, and this activity was found to be sensitive to variations in acyl chain lengths and to polar head group types in LPC. Treatment with LPC resulted in a significant increase in the level of GLUT4 at the plasma membranes of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Moreover, LPC did not affect IRS-1 and AKT2 phosphorylations, and LPC-induced glucose uptake was not influenced by pretreatment with the PI 3-kinase inhibitor {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"LY294002","term_id":"1257998346","term_text":"LY294002"}}LY294002. However, glucose uptake stimulation by LPC was abrogated both by rottlerin (a protein kinase Cδ inhibitor) and by the adenoviral expression of dominant negative protein kinase Cδ. In line with its determined cellular functions, LPC was found to lower blood glucose levels in normal mice. Furthermore, LPC improved blood glucose levels in mouse models of type 1 and 2 diabetes. These results suggest that an understanding of the mode of action of LPC may provide a new perspective of glucose homeostasis.     

The Antiarrhythmic and Anticonvulsant Effects of Dietary N-3 Fatty Acids

It has been shown in animals and probably in humans, that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are antiarrhythmic. We report recent studies on the antiarrhythmic actions of PUFAs. The PUFAs stabilize the electrical activity of isolated cardiac myocytes by modulating sarcolemmal ion channels, so that a stronger electrical stimulus is required to elicit an action potential and the refractory period is markedly prolonged. Inhibition of voltage-dependent sodium currents, which initiate action potentials in excitable tissues, and of the L-type calcium currents, which initiate release of sarcoplasmic calcium stores that increase cytosolic free calcium concentrations and activate the contractile proteins in myocytes, appear at present to be the probable major antiarrhythmic mechanism of the PUFAs. Received: 27 May 1999/Revised: 20 July 1999     

Effects of Nutritional and Excessive Levels of Selenium on Red Blood Cells of Rats Fed a High Cholesterol Diet

In this study, we investigated the effects of selenium (Se) on the properties of erythrocytes and atherogenic index in the presence and absence of high cholesterol diet (HCD). The effect of selected two different doses (1 μg and 50 μg Se/kg/body weight) on HCD-induced oxidative stress was investigated. The hemolysis of the erythrocytes of the HCD rats as well as by high levels of selenium or their combination was markedly increased. Likewise, atherogenic index and plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were significantly increased in the same groups of rats compared to control ones. In contrast, paraoxonase activity, glutathione levels and protein thiol levels, catalase, GPx, and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly decreased in rats that received the HCD, high selenium dose, or their combination. Malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels in the plasma and red blood cells were significantly increased by HCD and high selenium dose administration. Co-administration of selenium at low dose with or without an HCD restored all of the investigated parameters to near-normal values. The results of this study suggest that excess selenium administration with HCD worsens the atherogenic index and enhances formation of oxidized red blood cells. At dosage levels in the nutritional range such as 1 μg Se/kg body weight, selenium ameliorates the atherogenic index and preserves the antioxidant capacity of the erythrocytes.