The effects of dietary (n-3) fatty acid supplementation on lipid dynamics and composition in rat lymphocytes and liver microsomes

Rats were fed diets devoid of (n-3) fatty acids (olive oil supplementation) or high in (n-3) fatty acids (fish oil supplementation) for a period of 10 days. In spleen lymphocytes and liver microsomes derived from animals fed fish oil diets, relatively high levels of (n-3) eicosapentaenoic (20:5), docosapentaenoic (22:5) and docosahexaenoic acids (22:6) were obtained compared to minimal levels when fed the olive oil diet. When the average lipid motional properties were examined by measuring the fluorescence anisotropy of diphenylhexatriene, no significant different was found between intact liver microsomes from animals fed the two diets. However, when lipid motion was examined in vesicles of phosphatidylcholine, isolated from the microsomes from fish oil fed animals (21.4% (n-3) fatty acids), the fluorescence anisotropy was significantly less than the corresponding phosphatidylcholine from olive oil fed animals (5.6% (n-3) fatty acids), indicating a more disordered or fluid bilayer in the presence of higher levels of (n-3) fatty acids. Phosphatidylethanolamine (n-3) fatty acids were also elevated after fish oil supplementation (41.3% of total fatty acids), compared to the level after olive oil supplementation (21.4%). The major effect of the fish oil supplementation was a replacement of (n-6) arachidonic acid by the (n-3) fatty acids and when this was 'modeled', using liposomes of synthetic lipids, 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonyl(n-6) or docosahexaenoyl(n-3)-phosphatidylcholine, significant differences in lipid motional properties were found, with the docosahexaenoate conferring a more disordered or fluid lipid environment. Thus it appears that although lipid order/fluidity can be significantly decreased by increases in the highly unsaturated (n-3) fatty acid levels, alterations in membrane domain organization and/or phospholipid molecular species composition effectively compensated for the changes, at least as far as average lipid motional properties in the intact membranes was concerned.     

Response of rat heart membranes and associated ion-transporting ATPases to dietary lipid

The effects of different dietary fat intake on the lipid composition and enzyme behaviour of sarcolemmal (Na+ + K+)ATPase and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase from rat heart were investigated. Rat diets were supplemented with either sunflower seed oil (unsatd./satd. 5.6) or sheep kidney fat (unsatd./satd. 0.8). Significant changes in the phospholipid fatty acid composition were observed in both membranes after 9 weeks dietary lipid treatment. For both membranes, the total saturated/unsaturated fatty acid levels were unaffected by the dietary lipid treatment, however the proportions of the major unsaturated fatty acids were altered. Animals fed the sunflower seed oil diet exhibited an increase in n-6 fatty acids, including linoleic (18:2(n-6] and arachidonic (20:4(n-6] while the sheep kidney fat dietary rats were higher in n-3 fatty acids, principally docosahexaenoic (22:6), with the net result being a higher n-6/n-3 ratio in the sunflower seed oil group compared to sheep kidney fat dietary animals. Fluorescence polarization indicated that the fluidity of sarcoplasmic reticular membrane was greater than that of sarcolemmal membrane, with a dietary lipid-induced decrease in fluidity being observed in the sarcoplasmic reticular membrane from sheep kidney fat dietary animals. Despite these significant changes in membrane composition and physical properties, neither the specific activity nor the temperature-activity relationship (Arrhenius profile) of the associated ATPases were altered. These results suggest that with regard to the parameters measured in this study, the two ion-transporting ATPases are not modulated by changes which occur in the membrane lipid composition as a result of the diet.     

Alterations in the physical state and composition of brush border membrane lipids of rat enterocytes during differentiation

The physical state of the membrane lipid of brush border membranes, prepared from rat small intestinal villus and crypt cells, was examined by steady-state fluorescence polarization using three lipid-soluble fluorophors. Membranes prepared from crypt cells were found to possess a higher lipid fluidity than those of villus cells with each probe. Analysis of the composition of these membranes revealed that those from crypt cells had lower ratios of cholesterol/phospholipid (mol/mol), protein/lipid (w/w), and saturated fatty acyl chains/unsaturated chains (w/w). Alterations in the levels of stearic (18:0) and oleic (18:1) acids were responsible for differences in the latter ratio. The results, therefore, demonstrate that alterations in the lipid composition and fluidity of brush border membranes of enterocytes occur during the process of differentiation.     

Isolation and partial characterization of basolateral membranes from rat proximal colonic epithelial cells

The isolation of basolateral membranes from rat proximal colonic epithelial cells is described. Cells were harvested using a technique combining chelation of divalent cations with mechanical dissociation. After homogenization, differential centrifugation yielded a 'crude' membrane fraction which was further purified using sucrose density centrifugation. The final membrane fraction was enriched 10-14-fold over homogenate in ouabain-sensitive sodium-potassium dependent adenosine triphosphatase and ouabain-sensitive potassium-dependent phosphatase specific activities. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of this membrane revealed at least 18 protein bands with molecular weights of 14600-200000. Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingomyelin, free cholesterol and fatty acids were the major lipid components of this membrane. The predominant fatty acids were palmitic (16:0), oleic (18:1), stearic (18:0) and linoleic (18:2) acid. Membranes and their liposomes were studied, using the lipid soluble fluorophore 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), by steady-state fluorescence polarization. The fluorescence anisotropy was greater in the intact membranes compared to their liposomes, indicating greater fluidity in the liposomes. Compositional studies suggested that the high fluidity of this membrane was due to its low ratios of protein/lipid (w/w), cholesterol/phospholipid (mol/mol), and sphingomyelin/phosphatidylcholine (mol/mol).     

Gastric lipolysis in the developing rat. Ontogeny of the lipases active in the stomach

Two nutritional models, an essential fatty acid deficiency model and the feeding of saturated versus unsaturated fats, were used in a feeding study in order to assess the relationship between tissue fatty acid composition and the activities of some membrane-associated enzymes. Purified diets containing 7% hydrogenated coconut oil, 7% corn oil, 10% safflower oil or butter were fed to rats for a total of 49 weeks (1 week of pregnancy, 3 weeks of lactation and 45 weeks post-weaning). Tissue homogenates from submandibular salivary glands and kidneys were analyzed for fatty acid composition of total lipids and phospholipids. Changes in fatty acid patterns typical of essential fatty acid deficiency such as an increase in the levels of 16:1 and 18:1, a decrease in 18:2 and 20:4 and an accumulation of 20:3 omega 9 were observed in salivary glands and kidneys of rats fed the deficient diet. Tissues of rats fed 10% butter also showed fatty acid compositional changes which were somewhat similar to those in essential fatty acid deficiency, but to a lesser degree. The activities of ouabain-sensitive (Na+ + K+)-ATPase were higher in homogenates of salivary glands and kidneys of the deficient rats and those fed butter as compared with their controls. The results suggest a relationship between the double bond index of fatty acids as an indication of membrane lipid fluidity and allosteric modification of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. However, other explanations for the observed changes in (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity cannot be ruled out. There were no diet-related differences in the activities of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase or 5'-nucleotidase.     

Homoeostatic control of membrane cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism in the rat liver.

Experiments were designed to assess the effect of cholesterol feeding, with or without high levels of either saturated (coconut oil) or unsaturated (sunflower-seed oil) fat on the fatty acid composition of hepatic microsomal membrane lipids, as well as on the activities of several membrane-bound enzymes of cholesterol synthesis and metabolism. Administration of 2% (w/w) cholesterol in the rat diet inhibited hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase activity, and this inhibition was much more pronounced when cholesterol was fed in combination with unsaturated rather than with saturated fat. Cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity was increased by all the high-cholesterol diets and inhibited by both the high-fat diets. Cholesterol esterification, as assessed by acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity, was enhanced after unsaturated-fat feeding. Cholesterol supplement, without any added fat, failed to elicit any significant increase in ACAT activity, whereas consumption of cholesterol in combination with unsaturated fat led to the greatest increase in ACAT activity. After cholesterol feeding, C18:1 and C18:2 fatty acids in the microsomal phospholipids were increased, with concomitant decreases in C18:0, C20:4 and C22:6 fatty acids, leading to an overall decrease in membrane unsaturation, irrespective of the particular fat supplement. It can be concluded that the inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis and the enhancement of cholesterol utilization, either by increased bile formation or by increased cholesterol esterification, after cholesterol feeding, may not be enough to prevent cholesterol accumulation in the microsomal membranes. Then, to compensate for the altered fluidity resulting from cholesterol enrichment, the unsaturation of membrane phospholipids is decreased, which would in turn have an effect on membrane lipid fluidity opposite to that of increased cholesterol.     

Influence of dietary fat on the lipid composition of rat brain synaptosomal and microsomal membranes.

The modulation of rat brain microsomal and synaptosomal membrane lipid by diet fat was examined. Brain synaptosomal and microsomal membrane composition was compared for rats fed on diets containing either soya-bean oil (SBO), SBO plus choline, SBO lecithin, sunflower oil (SFO), chow or low-erucic acid rape-seed oil (LER) for 24 days. Cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine levels in both membranes were altered by diet. Diet fat also affected the microsomal content of sphingomyelin. Change in membrane phosphatidylcholine level was related to the relative balance of omega-6, omega-3 and monounsaturated fatty acids within the diets fed. The highest phosphatidylcholine levels appeared in membranes of animals fed on SBO lecithin and the lowest in those fed on LER. Microsomal membrane cholesterol and sphingomyelin content increased by feeding on SBO lecithin. In both synaptosomal and microsomal membranes a highly significant correlation was observed between membrane phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol content. The fatty acyl composition of phospholipids from both membranes also altered with diet and age. Alteration in fatty acid composition was observed in response to dietary levels of omega-6, omega-3 and monounsaturated fatty acids, but the unsaturation index of each phospholipid remained constant for all diet treatments. These changes in lipid composition suggest that dietary fat may be a significant modulator in vivo of the physicobiochemical properties of brain synaptosomal and microsomal membranes.     

Endogenous phospholipids of swine liver: effect of fat deprivation on molecular species of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine

Three 1-yr-old swine and two 2.5-wk-old swine were fed a fat-free diet for 1 month and 5 months, respectively. The hepatic phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were fractionated by silver ion thin-layer chromatography. A distinctive feature of the chromatographic procedure was the development of the chromatograms at low temperatures: -10 degrees C for phosphatidylcholine and 4 degrees C for phosphatidylethanolamine. The chromatographic fractions were hydrolyzed with phospholipase A(2), and the fatty acids were characterized. Significant concentrations of odd-chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were found in the swine deprived of fat for 5 months. The major molecular species of phosphatidylcholine in both groups contained monoenoic fatty acids: 16:0/18:1(n - 9), 18:0/18:1(n - 9), and 18:1(n - 9)/18:1(n - 9). Their concentrations changed only slightly with the diet. The molecular species of phosphatidylethanolamine were more sensitive to dietary changes. In the swine deprived of fat for 1 month, about 50% of the molecular species of phosphatidylethanolamine contained tetraenoic fatty acids: 16:0/20:4(n - 6), 18:0/20:4(n - 6), and 18:1(n - 9)/20:4(n - 6). The phosphatidylethanolamine of animals deprived of fat for 5 months contained only 3% molecular species with tetraenoic acids, 18:0/20:4(n - 6), but 36% molecular species with trienoic acids: 18:0/20:3(n - 9), 18:1(n - 9)/20:3(n - 9), 18:0/19:3(n - 8), 16:0/20:3(n - 9), and 17:0/20:3(n - 9). Doubly unsaturated species, such as 18:1(n - 9)/18:1(n - 9), 18:1(n - 9)/20:3(n - 9), and 18:1(n - 9)/20:4(n - 6), were found in both groups of swine, although their total concentrations were higher in the group deprived of fat for a longer period.     

Variations in dietary triacylglycerol saturation alter the lipid composition and fluidity of rat intestinal plasma membranes

Rats were maintained on nutritionally complete diets enriched in unsaturated (corn oil) or saturated (butter fat) triacylglycerols. After 6 weeks, significant differences in the lipid composition and fluidity of a number of intestinal membranes were observed. The corn oil diet (enriched mainly in linoleic acid) increased the overall unsaturation of the acyl chains and enhanced the lipid fluidity, as assessed by the fluorescence anisotropy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, of enterocyte microvillus and basolateral membranes and of colonocyte basolateral membranes. Concomitantly, the cholesterol content and the cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio were increased in the microvillus but not in the basolateral membranes. The increased cholesterol in ileal microvillus membranes can result from enhanced cellular biosynthesis, since ileal slices from rats fed the unsaturated diet incorporated [14C]octanoate more rapidly into digitonin-precipitable sterol. Increased fluidity of the enterocyte microvillus and basolateral membranes, respectively, enhanced the enzyme specific activities of p-nitrophenylphosphatase and (Na+ + K+)-dependent adenosine triphosphatase. The results indicate that the lipid composition, fluidity and enzyme activities of intestinal plasma membranes can be altered by dietary means. Moreover, rat enterocytes possess regulatory mechanisms which modulate the cholesterol content of the microvillus membranes so as to mitigate changes in lipid fluidity.     

Dietary lipid level influences fatty acid profiles, tissue composition, and lipid peroxidation of soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis

Dietary lipids containing equal portions of soybean oil and fish oil were fed to juvenile Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis, at supplementation level of 0 to 15% for 8 weeks. Tissue fat contents of turtles increased when dietary lipid concentration increased. Fatty acid profiles for turtles fed diets supplemented with 6% or higher levels of lipids were similar to those in dietary lipids. On absolute value basis, fatty acids of 14-, 16-, and 18-carbons in muscle of turtles fed diet without lipid supplementation were higher than those in the initial turtle muscle. Among them, C16:1 and C18:1 was approximately 4 and 2 fold higher, respectively, than that of the initial turtles. By contrast, absolute amounts of C20:5 and C22:6 in muscle of turtles fed diet without lipid supplementation were slightly less than those in the initial turtles. For turtles fed lipid supplemented diets, tissue C20:5 and C22:6, however, increased when dietary lipid level increased. These results suggest that soft-shelled turtles are capable of synthesizing fatty acids up to 18 carbons from other nutrients and that they may have limited or no ability to synthesize highly unsaturated fatty acids. Lipid peroxidation measured by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in tissues of turtles fed 12% and 15% lipids was greater (p<0.05) than that in turtles fed 3% to 9% lipids. This could be due to high lipid and unsaturated fatty acid content in these tissues. On lipid basis, lipid peroxidation in turtles fed diet without lipid supplementation was the highest among all groups suggesting the existence of antioxidant factors in the dietary lipids.     

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (C18:2 omega6 and C18:3 omega3) do not suppress hepatic lipogenesis

Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are promoted as beneficial in the prevention of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. In general, dietary omega 3 fatty acids are derived from plant sources as linolenic acid (LNA, C18:3 omega3) the precursor to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5 omega3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 omega3). However, it remains unclear if the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) LNA can provide the same health benefits as the very long chain highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) EPA and DHA generally derived from oily fish. In this study, mice were fed synthetic diets containing lard (low in PUFA and HUFA), canola oil (to supply PUFA), or a mixture of menhaden and arasco (fish and fungal) oils (to supply HUFA) for 8 weeks. The diets were neither high in calories nor fat, which was supplied at 6%. The lard and canola oil diets resulted in high levels of hepatic triglycerides and cholesterol and elevation of lipogenic gene expression. By comparison livers from mice fed the fish/fungal oil diet had low levels of lipid accumulation and more closely resembled livers from mice fed standard laboratory chow. SREBP1c and PPARgamma gene and protein expression were high in livers of animals fed diets containing lard or canola oil compared with fish/fungal oil. Hepatic fatty acid analyses indicated that dietary PUFA were efficiently converted to HUFA regardless of source. Therefore, differences in hepatic lipid levels and gene expression between dietary groups were due to exogenous fatty acid supplied rather than endogenous pools. These results have important implications for understanding the regulation of hepatic lipogenesis by dietary fatty acids.     

Effects of dietary fats on red blood cell membrane insulin receptor in normo- and hypercholesterolemic miniature swine

It has been demonstrated that the type of dietary fat affects insulin receptors in various tissues in normal humans and animals by altering membrane fluidity. This study compares the effects of n-3 fatty acids from fish oil and n-6 fatty acids from corn oil on red blood cell membrane insulin receptors in normal and hypercholesterolemic minipigs. A group of minipigs were made hypercholesterolemic by feeding cholesterol and lard for 2 months; the other group served as controls and was fed stock diet. Both groups were then fed experimental diets containing either corn oil or menhaden oil or a mixture of the two for 23 additional weeks. Blood was collected at 0, 2, 12 and 23 weeks after the start of the experimental diets and membranes were prepared from the red blood cells. Insulin binding to red blood cell membranes was measured by radioreceptor assay. Plasma insulin was measured by radioimmunoassay. Insulin binding to red blood cell membrane was compared with the fluidity of the membrane measured and reported earlier. There was no significant effect of cholesterol feeding on plasma insulin concentrations. After 23 weeks on experimental diet plasma insulin was significantly higher in minipigs fed menhaden oil compared to those fed corn oil. No such effect was observed in hypercholesterolemic minipigs. No significant effect of either hypercholesterolemia or fish oil was observed on red blood cell insulin binding. A significant negative relationship was observed between insulin binding and anisotropy at 4°C for all probes but at 37°C significant negative relationship was observed only with polar probes. The data suggest that n-3 fatty acids from fish oil significantly increases plasma insulin in minipigs compared to n-6 fatty acids from corn oil. However, the unsaturation has no significant effect on insulin receptors on erythrocytes. Similarly, prior hypercholesterolemic state also has no effect on plasma insulin levels or the insulin binding to red blood cell membranes.     

Fish oil reduces cholesterol and arachidonic acid content more efficiently in rats fed diets containing low linoleic acid to saturated fatty acid ratios

Rats were fed diets containing a high level of saturated fatty acids (hydrogenated beef tallow) versus a high level of linoleic acid (safflower oil) at both low and high levels of fish oil containing 7.5% (w/w) eicosapentaenoic and 2.5% (w/w) docosahexaenoic acids for a period of 28 days. The effect of feeding these diets on the cholesterol content and fatty acid composition of serum and liver lipids was examined. Feeding diets high in fish oil with safflower oil decreased the cholesterol content of rat serum, whereas feeding fish oil had no significant effect on the cholesterol content of serum when fed in combination with saturated fatty acids. The serum cholesterol level was higher in animals fed safflower oil compared to animals fed saturated fat without fish oil. Consumption of fish oil lowered the cholesterol content of liver tissue regardless of the dietary fat fed. Feeding diets containing fish oil reduced the arachidonic acid content of rat serum and liver lipid fractions, the decrease being more pronounced when fish oil was fed in combination with hydrogenated beef tallow than with safflower oil. These results suggest that dietary n-3 fatty acids of fish oil interact with dietary linoleic acid and saturated fatty acids differently to modulate enzymes of cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism.     

Rat proximal small intestinal Golgi membranes: lipid composition and fluidity

The present studies were conducted to examine and characterize the lipid composition and physical state of the membrane lipids of rat proximal small intestinal Golgi membranes. Golgi membranes were purified from isolated enterocytes; lipids were extracted from these membranes and analyzed by thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography. The 'static' and 'dynamic' components of fluidity of Golgi membranes and their liposomes were assessed by steady-state fluorescence polarization techniques utilizing r infinity and S values of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene and r values of DL-2-(9-anthroyl)- and DL-12-(9-anthroyl)stearic acid, respectively. Additional studies were also performed on these membranes, using benzyl and methyl alcohol, to examine the relationship between alterations in lipid fluidity and glycosphingolipid glycosyltransferase activities. The results of these studies demonstrated that: (1) the principal phospholipids and neutral lipids of intestinal Golgi membranes, respectively, were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin, and unesterified cholesterol and fatty acids; (2) the major fatty acids of Golgi membranes were palmitic (16:0), stearic (18:0), linoleic (18:2), arachidonic (20:4) and oleic (18:1) acids; (3) fluorescence polarization studies using diphenylhexatriene detected a thermotropic transition at 24-26 degrees C in Golgi membranes and liposomes prepared from lipid extracts of these membranes; (4) benzyl alcohol (25 and 50 mM) but not methyl alcohol (50 mM) significantly increased the fluidity of these membranes; and (5) at these same concentrations, benzyl alcohol was also found to increase significantly the specific activity of UDP-galactosyllactosylceramide galactosyltransferase but not CMP-acetylneuraminic acid: lactosylceramide sialyltransferase. Methyl alcohol was not found to influence either enzyme's activity in these membranes.     

Correction by 1-25-dihydroxycholecalciferol of the abnormal fluidity and lipid composition of enterocyte brush border membranes in vitamin D-deprived rats

Weanling male Wistar rats were deprived of dietary and light sources of vitamin D for 11-18 weeks along with age-matched diet vitamin D-repleted controls to evaluate the role of lipid fluidity in the stimulatory effect of calcitriol on Ca transport. The "static" component of fluidity of proximal small intestine brush border membrane, as assessed by steady-state fluorescence techniques using the fluorophore 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, was similar between these two groups. In contrast, the "dynamic" component of fluidity, as assessed by DL-2-(9-anthroyl)-stearic acid and DL-12-(9-anthroyl)-stearic acid, was decreased in membranes of D-deprived animals. Lipid composition was analyzed to evaluate the potential mechanism mediating these fluidity changes. In vitamin D-deprived rats, linoleic (18:2) and arachidonic (20:4) acids of the phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine fractions of the membrane were decreased, whereas palmitic (16:0) and stearic (18:0) acids were increased in the phosphatidylethanolamine fraction of the membrane. These associated fatty acyl alterations could explain, at least in part, the differences in membrane fluidity between D-repleted and D-deprived rats. Membrane fluidity, lipid composition, and duodenal Ca transport were also analyzed 1, 2, and 5 h after the acute administration of 1-25-dihydroxycholecalciferol to D-deprived animals. In D-deprived rats, within 1-2 h, this hormone restored to levels of vitamin D-repleted controls the dynamic component of fluidity and concentrations of the same membrane phospholipid fatty acids. Since these changes temporally precede detectable increases in Ca absorption (demonstrable only during the 5th h), these data support the hypothesis that alterations in membrane fluidity and lipid composition may play an important role in the stimulation of intestinal calcium transport by calcitriol.     

Effect of dietary n-3 fatty acids on HMG-CoA reductase and ACAT activities in liver and intestine of the rabbit

The regulation of hepatic and intestinal 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase and acyl-CoA; cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activities by dietary fish oil was examined in the rabbit. Rabbits were fed 10% menhaden oil or menhaden oil plus 1% cholesterol for 14 days. They were compared with animals fed a control diet or one enriched with long-chain saturated fats consisting of 10% cocoa butter oil or cocoa butter oil plus 1% cholesterol. Plasma cholesterol was increased in rabbits fed the fish oil and the two cholesterol-containing diets. In the liver, ACAT activity was increased and HMG-CoA reductase activity was decreased in rabbits ingesting the fish oil. The same was true for animals ingesting both cholesterol-containing diets. In the intestine, ACAT activity was not affected by the ingestion of the fish oil compared to control rabbits; however, it was significantly higher in animals fed the fish oil compared to animals ingesting the cocoa butter. HMG-CoA reductase activity was decreased in the distal two-thirds of the intestine in animals fed the menhaden oil compared to activities observed in controls. In animals ingesting the cholesterol diets, intestinal reductase was significantly decreased, whereas intestinal ACAT activity was increased in rabbits ingesting the cocoa butter and cholesterol diet when compared to their controls. Lipid analysis of hepatic and intestinal microsomes demonstrated an enrichment of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in membranes from rabbits ingesting the menhaden oil.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Biological significance of phosphorylation and myristoylation in the regulation of cardiac muscle proteins

The effect of different dietary fats on peritoneal macrophage plasma membrane fluidity, intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) production, GTP hydrolysis and TNF binding and TNF-induced IL1 and IL6 production was investigated. After a four week period, fluidity, as determined by both fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and anisotropy was lowest and highest in animals fed corn and fish oil respectively. After eight weeks feeding, lateral membrane movements were decreased substantially in fish, olive and coconut oil fed dietary groups, whereas an increase in the corn oil fed group was observed, no effect was observed in macrophages from the butter fed group. However, an increase in the packing was observed in macrophages from all dietary groups except in the olive oil fed group. GTPase values for the coconut oil and butter groups were higher than in any other dietary group. After receiving the diet for 8 weeks these differences between the groups were no longer apparent. Exposure of macrophages to TNF had no effect on the rate of GTP hydrolysis. A major enhancement of cAMP production became apparent between weeks 4 and 8 of dietary treatment. After 4 weeks on the diet, values were significantly higher from cells of animals fed corn and olive oils than from animals fed fish oil. After 8 weeks, while there was a general enhancement of production, further differences became apparent. Feeding corn and coconut oils resulted in the highest values and olive oil and chow in the lowest. It is proposed that fats rich in n-3 fatty acids (fish oils) alter membrane fluidity, decrease TNF binding affinity, GTPase activity and cAMP production which appears not to modify cytokine production after short term dietary supplementation. However, after long term feeding it appears that increases in the sensitivity of the TNF receptors plays a major role in modifying cytokine production. (Mol Cell Biochem 166: 135-143, 1997)     

Lipid composition and fluidity in the jejunal brush-border membrane of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Effects on activities of membrane-bound proteins

The lipid composition and fluidity of jejunal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) have been studied in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. The activities of both Na⁺-dependent D-glucose cotransport and Na⁺-H⁺ antiport have also been determined. A significant increase in the level of free cholesterol was observed in jejunal BBMV from SHR compared to WKY rats. Since phospholipid values did not change in either group of animals, a significant enhancement in the free cholesterol/phospholipid ratio was observed in SHR. A decrease in the levels of phosphatidylethanolamine together with an increase in the values of phosphatidylserine was observed in hypertensive rats. Although the content of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) was not singificantly altered in SHR, the ratio PC/SM significantly increased in these animals when compared to WKY rats. The major fatty acids present in bursh-border membranes prepared from SHR and WKY rats were palmitic (160), stearic (180), oleic (181, n-9) and linoleic (182, n-6), and the fatty acid composition was not modified by the hypertension. A decreased fluorescence polarization, i.e., increased membrane fluidity, was observed in SHR, which was not correlated to the increased ratio of cholesterol/phospholipid found in the brush-border membrane isolated from these animals. These structural changes found in SHR were associated to an enhancement in both Na⁺-dependent D-glucose transport and Na⁺-H⁺ antiport activity in the jejunal BBMV of SHR.Abbreviations BBMV brush-border membrane vesicles - DPH 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene - FC free cholesterol - PC phosphatidylcholine - PE phosphatidylethanolamine - PI phosphatidylinositol - PS phosphatidylserine - SM sphingomyelin - SHR spontaneously hypertensive rat - p steady-state fluoroscence polarization - r_s steady-state fluorescence anisotropy - WKY Wistar Kyoto     

Lipid composition of liver microsomes in rats fed a high monounsaturated fatty acid diet

The fatty acid and cholesterol contents of tissue membranes are the determinants of membrane stability and functionality. This study was designed to evaluate the influence of a high monounsaturated fatty acid diet on the fatty acid composition of rat liver microsomes and on their cholesterol and lipid phosphorus content. Weanling animals were fed for 5 weeks with high fat diets containing olive oil or corn oil. Saturated fatty acids were increased and oleic acid decreased in microsomal total phospholipids and in the three major phosphoglycerides, phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylinositol (PI), of rats fed corn oil as compared to the olive oil group. The percentage of linoleic acid was higher in the corn oil group, but only for total phospholipids and PC. Linoleic and alpha-linolenic metabolites were significantly increased in total phospholipids of olive oil-fed animals with respect to those fed corn oil. These changes were responsible for the low unsaturation index found in microsomal phospholipids of the corn oil group. The diet did not affect the microsome cholesterol or the lipid phosphorus content. These results show that, in olive oil-fed rats, the cholesterol content and the degree of unsaturation of liver microsomes was similar to that observed in weanling animals; this probably suggests an adequate maintenance of functionality of membranes in olive oil-fed animals.     

The manipulation of fatty acid composition in L-M cell monolayers supplemented with cyclopentenyl fatty acids

Mouse L-M fibroblasts, grown in a serum-free medium, were supplemented with fatty acids of 16 and 18 carbon chain lengths that contain a cyclopentene ring in the ω position. These fatty acids, unnatural to mammalian systems, were incorporated into the major lipid classes of L-M fibroblasts. Supplementation with the cyclopentenyl fatty acids caused an accumulation of neutral glycerolipids and marked inhibition of cell growth. Following the addition of supplement, the cells became more rounded. Of particular interest was the fact that the phospholipid fraction isolated from treated cells contained cyclic fatty acids that accounted for as much as 24% of the total phospholipid acyl groups. Unlike the pattern of distribution displayed by endogenous natural monoenes, the majority of the cyclic acid present was esterified in the sn-1 position of both phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. The 18-carbon cyclic fatty acid [chaulmoogric acid, 13-(2-cyclopenten-1-yl)tridecanoic acid] was incorporated at the expense of the endogenous C-16:0, C-18:0, and C-18:1 fatty acids of the glycerophospholipids. The esterification altered the ratio of saturated to unsaturated acyl groups in the cellular phospholipids. No biochemical modification of chaulmoogric acid was detected.Our results imply that incorporation of unnatural fatty acid analogs, such as chaulmoogric acid, into cellular membranes would alter the functional properties of biological membranes that are dependent on membrane fluidity and structural organization.