Angiogenic activity of maternal and fetal placental tissues of ewes throughout gestation

In Study 1, explants of caruncular and intercaruncular endometrium and fetal membrane were collected from ewes (5-6/day) on Days 11-13, 16-18 and 21-23 after mating and Days 10-12 after oestrus, and incubated for 24 h. Explant-conditioned media were evaluated for their effects on endothelial cell proliferation. Both caruncular and intercaruncular endometrium secreted factor(s) which stimulated endothelial cell proliferation, and which appeared to be greater than 100 x 10(3) Mr and heat-labile. In Study 2, conditioned media from explant incubations of caruncular and intercaruncular endometrium, cotyledon and intercotyledonary fetal membrane obtained from ewes (6-7/day) on Days 40, 65, 90, 115 and 140 after mating were evaluated for their effects on endothelial cell proliferation. Caruncular and intercaruncular endometrium and intercotyledonary fetal membrane secreted factor(s) which inhibited endothelial cell proliferation. Media from cotyledonary explants tended to stimulate endothelial cell proliferation on Day 115. Conditioned media from cotyledonary explants obtained from 3 additional ewes at Day 120 of gestation stimulated endothelial cell proliferation, and this activity also appeared to be greater than 100 x 10(3) Mr. Placental angiogenesis in ewes therefore appears to be modulated by both maternal and fetal placental tissues via stimulatory and inhibitory factors.     

Effects of conjugated linoleic acid on prostaglandins produced by cells isolated from maternal intercotyledonary endometrium, fetal allantochorion and amnion in late pregnant ewes

The anticarcinogenic properties of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) are, at least partially, attributed to its ability to interrupt the n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolic pathway for the biosynthesis of eicosanoids, including prostaglandins (PG). Both PGE(2) and PGF(2alpha) play key roles in parturition. In the present study, we compared the effects of CLA (a mixture of cis- and trans-9, 11- and -10, 12-octadecadienoic acid) and linoleic acid (LA) on PG production by cells isolated from maternal intercotyledonary endometrium, fetal allantochorion and amnion from late pregnant ewes. The results demonstrated that supplementation of LA and CLA significantly affected both the proportions and the amounts of PGs produced by all three tissue types. The ability of the uterus and placenta to respond to oxytocin (OT, endometrium only) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was also affected. LA inhibited PGE(2) and PGF(2alpha) production in the absence or presence of either oxytocin or LPS. In endometrial cells with or without oxytocin or LPS, CLA dose-dependently suppressed PGF(2alpha) generation, whereas low doses of CLA (20 microM) increased PGE(2) generation. Supplementation with CLA therefore increased the PGE(2)/PGF(2alpha) ratio in the endometrial cells. These results suggest that dietary supplementation of LA or CLA may affect both the initiation and progression of parturition.     

Fat supplementation to the gestation diet of older sows and its effect on maternal and fetal fat metabolism

Sows that had had 3 previous litters were fed either a diet with no added fat (low fat) which was rich in linoleic acid (56.7% 18:2n-6), or a high fat diet containing lard, high in total saturates (28.9%) and oleic acid (37.8% 18:1n-9) during gestation. Backfat build-up in the sows on the high fat diet was accelerated compared to the low fat group. On day 110 of gestation, fetuses were removed. The fat content of the diet had no significant effect on sow weight gain during gestation, and the number or body weight of fetuses. Activities of sow liver and adipose and fetal liver malic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-P) and acetyl-CoA-carboxylase (ACoABx) were measured. Only fetal liver ACoABx and sow adipose G-6-P were significantly affected by the sow's diet.     

Effect of linseed supplementation of the gestation and lactation diets of dairy ewes on the growth performance and the intramuscular fatty acid composition of their lambs

In this study, we investigated the effects of maternal gestation and/or lactation diets supplemented with extruded linseed (rich in 18:3n-3) on growth performance and long-chain polyunsaturated faaty acid (PUFA) accumulation in muscle tissues of suckling lambs. A total of 36 dairy ewes were fed a control diet (CON) and a diet containing linseed (LIN) during the last 8 weeks of gestation and/or the first 4 weeks of lactation. The four dietary treatments consisted of the following gestation/lactation feeding treatments: CON/CON, CON/LIN, LIN/LIN or LIN/CON. The lambs born from ewes fed the aforementioned diets were reared exclusively on milk and were slaughtered at 4 weeks of age. Profiles of ewes’ milk fatty acids and that of intramuscular fat (IMF) of leg muscles from lambs were determined. Compared with the CON/CON, LIN/CON offspring tended to grow slower and to have reduced cold carcass weights. Moreover, the LIN supplementation only in the prepartum period (LIN/CON) resulted in greater PUFAn-3 accumulation in the IMF compared with the CON/CON offspring due to increased 20:5n-3 (1.20 v. 0.64 mg/100 mg of total FA), 22:5n-3 (1.91 v. 1.46;) and 22:6n-3 (1.25 v. 0.89) contents, respectively. Compared with the CON/CON diet, providing LIN only during lactation (CON/LIN) caused a greater PUFAn-3 content in the IMF mainly due to a greater 18:3n-3 (1.79 v. 0.75 mg/100 g total FA) concentration. Continuous PUFAn-3 exposure, both via the maternal gestation and lactation diet, had no additive effects on PUFAn-3 accumulation in tissues. The results suggest that linseed, as an 18:3n-3 source, seems to be more efficient in increasing long-chain PUFAn-3 in fetal than in suckling lamb tissues.     

Impacts of protein supplementation during late gestation of beef cows on maternal skeletal muscle and liver tissues metabolism

Since nutritional requirements are increased at the end of gestation to meet the demands of the pregnant uterus, pregnant beef cows are susceptible to mobilization of body reserves (mainly fat and amino acids (AAs)) and to alter the metabolism of nutrients in the liver and muscle to support such demands. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of CP supplementation on maternal nutrient metabolism in the late gestation of beef cows grazing a low-quality pasture. Forty-three pregnant Nellore cows gestating male fetuses (average age = 6 years; average weight = 544 kg) at 193 ± 30 (mean ± SD) days (d) of gestation were divided into eight groups (experimental units, with four to five cows each). Treatments were (1) control (CON, n = 4): pasture-based (PB) diet without CP supplementation and (2) supplemented (SUP, n = 4): PB diet daily supplemented with 2 g/kg of BW of a 43.5% CP supplement. Liver and skeletal muscle biopsies were performed at 265 days of gestation and samples were collected for mRNA expression. On day 280 of gestation, blood samples were collected to assess plasma levels of AA. The CON-fed cows tended to have greater (P = 0.057) total circulating AA than SUP-fed cows. The circulating glycogenic AA was greater (P = 0.035) in CON than in SUP cows. CON cows was greater for histidine (P = 0.015), methionine (P = 0.007) and alanine (P = 0.036) than SUP cows. The CON- and SUP-fed showed no differences for gluconeogenesis, fatty acid transport and signaling axis markers in the liver. The mRNA expression of markers for skeletal muscle synthesis, p7056k (P = 0.060) and GSK3B (P = 0.096), tended to be greater in cows from CON than SUP group. No differences were found for mRNA expression of markers for skeletal muscle degradation. We conclude that CP supplementation to CP-restricted late-pregnant beef cows reduces the maternal tissue mobilization and changes the profile of plasma circulating AA and the mRNA expression of markers for the synthesis of skeletal muscle tissue.     

The effect of rapamycin on DNA synthesis in multiple tissues from late gestation fetal and postnatal rats

Rapamycin is a potent antiproliferative agent that arrests cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle through a variety of mechanisms involving the inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. The majority of normal cells in culture are sensitive to the cytostatic effects of rapamycin, whereas the growth of many malignant cells and tumors is rapamycin resistant. We had shown previously that hepatic DNA synthesis in the late gestation rat fetus is rapamycin resistant even though signaling through the mTOR/S6 kinase (S6K) pathway is attenuated. On the basis of this finding, we went on to characterize the response to rapamycin in a spectrum of tissues during late gestation and the early postnatal period in the rat. We found that rapamycin had no effect on DNA synthesis in major organs such as heart, intestine, and kidney in the fetal and early postnatal rat despite a marked attenuation in the phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6. In contrast, the proliferation of mature hepatocytes during liver regeneration was highly sensitive to rapamycin. These data indicate that basal cellular proliferation in a wide variety of tissues is rapamycin resistant and occurs independently of mTOR/S6K signaling. Furthermore, the well-characterized effects of rapamycin in tissue culture systems are not recapitulated in the asynchronous cell proliferation that accompanies normal growth and tissue remodeling.     

Effects of l-glutamine supplementation on maternal and fetal hemodynamics in gestating ewes exposed to alcohol

Not much is known about effects of gestational alcohol exposure on maternal and fetal cardiovascular adaptations. This study determined whether maternal binge alcohol exposure and l-glutamine supplementation could affect maternal-fetal hemodynamics and fetal regional brain blood flow during the brain growth spurt period. Pregnant sheep were randomly assigned to one of four groups: saline control, alcohol (1.75–2.5 g/kg body weight), glutamine (100 mg/kg body weight) or alcohol + glutamine. A chronic weekend binge drinking paradigm between gestational days (GD) 99 and 115 was utilized. Fetuses were surgically instrumented on GD 117 ± 1 and studied on GD 120 ± 1. Binge alcohol exposure caused maternal acidemia, hypercapnea, and hypoxemia. Fetuses were acidemic and hypercapnic, but not hypoxemic. Alcohol exposure increased fetal mean arterial pressure, whereas fetal heart rate was unaltered. Alcohol exposure resulted in ~40 % reduction in maternal uterine artery blood flow. Labeled microsphere analyses showed that alcohol induced >2-fold increases in fetal whole brain blood flow. The elevation in fetal brain blood flow was region-specific, particularly affecting the developing cerebellum, brain stem, and olfactory bulb. Maternal l-glutamine supplementation attenuated alcohol-induced maternal hypercapnea, fetal acidemia and increases in fetal brain blood flow. l-Glutamine supplementation did not affect uterine blood flow. Collectively, alcohol exposure alters maternal and fetal acid–base balance, decreases uterine blood flow, and alters fetal regional brain blood flow. Importantly, l-glutamine supplementation mitigates alcohol-induced acid–base imbalances and alterations in fetal regional brain blood flow. Further studies are warranted to elucidate mechanisms responsible for alcohol-induced programming of maternal uterine artery and fetal circulation adaptations in pregnancy.     

Influence of dietary lipids and linoleic acid amounts on fatty acid content and composition of pig serum lipoproteins

The effects of hyperlipidic polyunsaturated fat diets (PF) and saturated fat diets (SF) versus control diet (CO) on total lipid, phospholipid (PL) and cholesteryl ester (CE) content and composition of pig serum lipoproteins were studied in Large White pigs who first underwent a PF period for 14 days followed by a CO period and third a SF feeding during a fortnight. PF and SF diets induced an increase of linoleic acid in serum total lipids, especially in HDL fraction; this increase in CE and PL involved a reverse change of oleic acid. The modifications induced by the amounts of dietary linoleic acid could be explained by an alteration of LCAT activity. The fatty acid pattern of PL which constitute the LCAT substrate lead to an enrichment of cholesterol linoleate.     

Relationship between plasma progesterone in late gestation and the incidence of dystocia in romney ewes

Thirty-eight percent (6 16 ) of the ewes with a previous history of dystocia and 15% (2 13 ) of the ewes with no dystocia in 4 lambings, had difficult births in 1976. Despite large variations in plasma progesterone concentrations among ewes at the same stage of gestation there were no differences in the progesterone concentration during the last 30 days of gestation for both single- and twin-bearing ewes with or without a history of dystocia, nor for single-bearing ewes with or without a dystocia. The progesterone concentrations declined during the last 10 days before parturition in ewes with and without dystocia. The lambs from single-bearing ewes with a dystocia did not have heavier birth weights than the lambs from single-bearing ewes without a dystocia.     

Double enrichment of chicken eggs with conjugated linoleic acid and n-3 fatty acids through dietary fat supplementation

Yolk fat fatty acid (FA) concentrations, sensory quality and firmness of eggs and laying hen performance were evaluated with respect to the combined inclusion in the diet of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), high n-3 oil sources and high-oleic sunflower oil (HOSO). Nine diets were arranged factorially, with three levels of n-3 FA supplementation (2.9, 3.7 and 4.5 g/kg) from three different sources (two fish oils highly concentrated in eicosapentanoic (EPA) or docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and one algae oil with a very high-DHA content) in diets added with fixed amounts of CLA (2.5 g/kg) and HOSO (30 g/kg). A commercial feed with no CLA, n-3 or HOSO added, and another one containing 4.5 g/kg of high-DHA fish oil but not CLA or HOSO were also formulated. An increase in n-3 FA supplementation had little effect on proportions of CLA, monounsaturated FA, saturated FA or total polyunsaturated FA in yolk fat, but increased (P<0.005) long-chain n-3 FA and decreased (P<0.001) long-chain n-6 FA. An increment of dietary n-3 FA also impaired linearly (P<0.001) egg acceptability by consumers. An increment in the proportion of DHA with respect to total n-3 FA from 0.28 to 0.96 increased yolk concentrations of DHA (P<0.001) and total n-3 FA (P<0.01), but decreased (P<0.001) concentrations of EPA and docosapentanoic acid FA. Current data indicate that addition of HOSO to diets supplemented with moderate amounts of CLA and n-3 FA allows the production of double enriched eggs while maintaining sensory quality for consumers at acceptable levels.     

The fatty acid composition of the tissues of streptozotocin-diabetic rats

The authors studied acute changes in the fatty acid composition of the tissues of streptozotocin-diabetic rats. They found that streptozotocin diabetes led to changes in the total lipids fatty acid spectrum in serum and in tissues (liver, adipose tissue, renal cortex diaphragm). After only 7 days' diabetes there was an increase in the percentual proportion of saturated fatty acids and a decrease in the amount of polyene fatty acids in the serum and in all the above tissue of diabetic animals. Palmitic acid (16:0) participated in the increase in the proportion of saturated fatty acids in all the given tissues, while stearic acid (18:0) played a role in the increase in the renal cortex and the serum. Among the monoene acids, there was a drop in the proportion of palmitoleic acid (16:1) in the adipose tissue and serum and in the amount of oleic acid (18:1) in the renal cortex, liver and muscle. Linoleic acid (18:2) played a role in the decrease in the proportion of polyene acids in all the given tissues and the serum, while arachidonic acid (20:4) was involved in the drop in the renal cortex, liver and muscle. The results show that diabetes leads to changes in the fatty acid composition of the renal cortex and muscle, as well as of the liver and adipose tissue. At present it is not yet clear whether there is an absolute decrease in the proportion of essential fatty acids, or whether diabetes is characterized by an increase in the amount of lipids in both serum and tissues.     

Effects of dietary concentrate composition and linseed oil supplementation on the milk fatty acid profile of goats

Milk fat composition can be modulated by the inclusion of lipid supplements in ruminant diets. An interaction between the lipid supplement and the forage to concentrate ratio or the type of forage in the rations may affect milk fat composition. However, little is known about the effects of the starch-to-non-forage NDF ratio in the concentrate and lipid supplementation of goat diets. The aim of this work was to determine the role of dietary carbohydrates in goats rations supplemented with linseed oil on animal performance and milk fatty acid (FA) profile. A total of 16 dairy goats were allocated to two simultaneous experiments (two treatments each), in a crossover design with four animals per treatment and two experimental periods of 25 days. In both experiments alfalfa hay was the sole forage and the forage to concentrate ratio (33:67) remained constant. The concentrate in experiment 1 consisted of barley, maize and soybean meal (concentrate rich in starch), whereas it included soybean hulls replacing 25% of barley and 25% maize in experiment 2 (concentrate rich in NDF). As a result, the starch-to-non-forage NDF ratio was 3.1 in experiment 1 and it decreased to 0.8 in experiment 2. Both concentrates were administered either alone or in combination with 30 g/day of linseed oil. Animal performance parameters were not affected by experimental treatments. In contrast, major changes were observed in milk FA profile due to lipid supplementation and the type of concentrate. Linseed oil significantly raised vaccenic and rumenic acids as well as α-linolenic acid and its biohydrogenation intermediates while decreased medium-chain saturated FA (12:0 to 16:0) in milk fat. Milk fat contents of odd and branched-chain FA and trans-10 18:1 responded differently to linseed oil supplementation according to the concentrate fed.     

Regulatory effect of steroid hormones and fetal tissues on expression of oxytocin receptor in the endometrium of late pregnant ewes.

Oxytocin receptors play an important role in the establishment of pregnancy and parturition in ruminants. Previous studies in cyclic and early pregnant ewes have indicated that receptor concentrations are regulated by steroid hormones and fetal secretory products. This study investigated the effect of oestradiol and progesterone, or co-culture with placenta or corpus luteum on oxytocin receptor expression. Endometrial explants from late pregnant ewes were cultured for up to 96 h in various treatment combinations. After culture, tissues were subjected to in situ hybridization and autoradiography with 125I-labelled oxytocin receptor antagonist to localize and measure the expression of oxytocin receptor mRNA and protein. Results were quantified as absorbance units from autoradiographs. Oxytocin receptors were confined to the endometrial luminal epithelium and both mRNA and 125I-labelled oxytocin receptor antagonist binding were upregulated spontaneously in basic serum-free medium. Upregulation occurred earlier in the presence of oestradiol (0.1 mumol l-1) but the final receptor concentration was similar to that found in the basic medium. Continuous progesterone treatment (1 mumol l-1) and co-culture with corpus luteum both delayed the increase in oxytocin receptor mRNA, but a short initial (4 h) period in progesterone-free basic medium resulted in loss of the inhibitory effect. Co-culture with placental tissues had no effect. In conclusion, oxytocin receptor expression in the luminal epithelium increased immediately on removal from the maternal environment. This occurred regardless of treatment and did not require the presence of steroid hormones, but could be accelerated or delayed by oestradiol and progesterone, respectively. There may be an additional inhibitory factor present in the corpus luteum.     

The effect of dietary supplementation with calcium salts of long chain fatty acids and/or l-carnitine on ovarian activity of Rahmani ewes

This study investigated the effect of dietary supplementation with calcium salts of long chain fatty acids with or without of l-carnitine on ovarian activity using 24 Rahmani ewes randomly allocated to four treatments. Control animals (n = 6) were fed a basal diet of hay (64.2%) and barley grain (35.0%) plus minerals and vitamins (0.8%). Ewes on the three treatments received the same basal diet supplemented with calcium salts of long chain fatty acids (CSFA) at 3% of the basal diet dry matter intake (1.4 kg/ewe/d); 250 ppm l-carnitine (LC); or both these supplements (CSFA + LC). All use exhibited natural estrus on one or two occasions and were weighed at the start and the end of the study as well as body condition score was assessed at the end of study. All ewes were then synchronised for estrus using intravaginal sponges for 12 d prior to the start of the nutritional treatments and three weeks after the nutritional treatments began. The nutritional treatments were imposed for a total of 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected prior to the start of treatments and every two weeks thereafter except after sponge removal of first and second synchronisation where the blood samples were collected daily for progesterone assay. The results revealed that Rahmani ewes received basal diet (control) and l-carnitine had significantly decrease final body weight and body condition score (36.3 ± 0.4; 36.8 ± 0.3; 2.2 ± 0.04; 2.1 ± 0.05; p < 0.05, respectively) than those on CSFA and CSFA + LC (38.6 ± 0.9; 39.5 ± 0.6; 3.3 ± 0.07; 3.4 ± 0.06; respectively). At the second ultrasound examination, the control animals had significantly fewer total follicles (7.3 ± 0.8; p < 0.05) than those on the CSFA (8.4 ± 0.8), l-carnitine (8.7 ± 1.5) and CSFA + LC (8.0 ± 0.6) treatments. The increased numbers occurred in the medium and large categories of follicles. In addition, the ovulation rates were significantly lower (p < 0.05) for control (1.3 ± 0.2) and l-carnitine (1.5 ± 0.00) than for CSFA (2.5 ± 0.3) and CSFA + LC (2.3 ± 0.2). Furthermore, serum progesterone concentrations had risen and were significantly higher (p < 0.05) for CSFA (2.5 ± 0.3 ng/ml) and CSFA + LC (2.7 ± 0.1 ng/ml) than for control (1.1 ± 0.7 ng/ml) and l-carnitine (1.5 ± 0.4 ng/ml). It was concluded that supplementation of the basal diet with l-carnitine alone did not improve performance of ewes or the ovarian response. However, the addition of calcium salts of long chain fatty acids to the basal diet alone or in combination with l-carnitine significantly improved the number and size of ovarian preovulatory follicles, and the ovulation rate of Rahmani ewes. Further evidence was required to study their influence on follicular atresia.     

Effects of linoleic acid and mitogenic stimulation on the fatty acid composition of human lymphocytes

Perturbation of the fatty acid composition of human lymphocytes in vitro was investigated by addition of linoleic acid complexed to bovine serum albumin (BSA-LA) and by mitogenic stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). BSA-LA resulted in a 45% increase in linoleic acid in phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and over 100% in phosphatidylcholine (PC) in peripheral blood cells. Supplementation with BSA-LA in PHA-stimulated lymphocytes produced even greater changes: 100% increase in linoleic acid content for PE and over 300% for PC. There was a large decrease in oleic acid: 40% for PE and almost 100% in PC. Significant decreases in arachidonic acid occurred in both phospholipid fractions. PHA alone also altered membrane phospholipid fatty acid composition, with reductions in palmitic, stearic and linoleic acid for PE and increases in oleic acid and arachidonic acid (almost 100%). For PC, there were large decreases in stearic (40%), linoleic (30%) and arachidonic (40%) acids, together with an increase in oleic acid (65%). Cells supplemented with linoleic acid grown in the presence of PHA, compared with those grown in linoleic acid-supplemented medium alone, showed a 40% decrease in palmitic acid and a 55% increase in arachidonic acid in PE. For PC, there were large decreases in stearic acid (40%) and arachidonic acid (57%). Antibody-induced redistribution of surface molecules ('capping') was inhibited by some 14% after incubation with BSA-LA. However, no consistent alterations in PHA-induced cell proliferation were observed. These data suggest that profound alterations of membrane fatty acid composition occur spontaneously during the mitotic cycle, and may be further induced by experimental manipulation, without gross perturbation of cell function.     

Modulation of plasma N-acylethanolamine levels and physiological parameters by dietary fatty acid composition in humans

N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) are endogenous lipid-signaling molecules involved in satiety and energetics; however, how diet impacts circulating NAE concentrations and their downstream metabolic actions in humans remains unknown. Objectives were to examine effects of diets enriched with high-oleic canola oil (HOCO) or HOCO blended with flaxseed oil (FXCO), compared with a Western diet (WD), on plasma NAE levels and the association with energy expenditure and substrate oxidation. Using a randomized controlled crossover design, 36 hypercholesterolemic participants consumed three isoenergetic diets for 28 days, each containing 36% energy from fat, of which 70% was HOCO, FXCO, or WD. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-MS/MS was used to measure plasma NAE levels and indirect calorimetry to assess energy expenditure and substrate oxidation. After 28 days, compared with WD, plasma oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and alpha-linolenoyl ethanolamide (ALEA) levels were significantly increased in response to HOCO and FXCO (P = 0.002, P < 0.001), respectively. Correlation analysis demonstrated an inverse association between plasma OEA levels and percent body fat (r = −0.21, P = 0.04), and a positive association was observed between the plasma arachidonoyl ethanolamide (AEA)/OEA ratio and android:gynoid fat (r = 0.23, P = 0.02), respectively. Results suggest that plasma NAE levels are upregulated via their dietary lipid substrates and may modulate regional and total fat mass through lipid-signaling mechanisms.     

Neutrophil fatty acid composition: effect of a single session of exercise and glutamine supplementation

The fatty acid composition of immune cells appears to contribute to variations of cell function. The independent and combined effects of a single session of exercise (SSE) and glutamine supplementation (GS) on neutrophil fatty acid composition were investigated. Compared to control (no treatment given--i.e. neither SSE or GS), single session of exercise decreased myristic, palmitic and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids, and increased lauric, oleic, linoleic, arachidonic (AA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids whereas glutamine supplementation combined with SSE (GS+SSE) increased oleic acid. Polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio and Unsaturation index were higher in neutrophils from the SSE and GS groups as compared with control. These findings support the proposition that SSE and GS may modulate neutrophil function through alterations in fatty acid composition.