Influence of N-palmitoylethanolamine on the phospholipid and fatty acid composition of rat liver in ischemia

The effect of N-palmitoylethanolamine (NPE, 10(-5) M) on the lipid peroxidation (LPO) processes, phospholipid and fatty acid content in the rat liver at perfusion and ischemia during the liver preservation was estimated. As early as at the 5th min of perfusion by cooled conserving solution "Eurocollins", LPO activation was determined. Simultaneously the content of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and phosphatidylserine increased, the total cholesterol level decreased. The redistribution of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids quantity was detected. The addition of NPE into "Eurocollins" solution reduced the accumulation of malonedialdehyde and LPC, modified the fatty acids content. These effects, evidently, formed the basis of the protective action of NPE on the hepatic tissues under anoxia.     

Differential effects of coconut oil- and fish oil-enriched diets on tricarboxylate carrier in rat liver mitochondria

The mitochondrial tricarboxylate carrier (TCC) plays an important role in lipogenesis being TCC-responsible for the efflux from the mitochondria to the cytosol of acetyl-CoA, the primer for fatty acid synthesis. In this study, we investigated the effects of two high-fat diets with different fatty acid composition on the hepatic TCC activity. Rats were fed for 3 weeks on a basal diet supplemented with 15% of either coconut oil (CO), abundant in medium-chain saturated fatty acids, or fish oil (FO), rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Mitochondrial fatty acid composition was differently influenced by the dietary treatments, while no appreciable change in phospholipid composition and cholesterol level was observed. Compared with CO, the TCC activity was markedly decreased in liver mitochondria from FO-fed rats; kinetic analysis of the carrier revealed a decrease of the Vmax, with no change of the Km. No difference in the Arrhenius plot between the two groups was observed. Interestingly, the carrier protein level and the corresponding mRNA abundance decreased following FO treatment. These data indicate that FO administration markedly decreased the TCC activity as compared with CO. This effect is most likely due to a reduced gene expression of the carrier protein.     

Heart phospholipid content and fatty acid composition in the rat after feeding different lipid supplemented diets.

The heart phospholipid content and fatty acid composition were examined in adult rats after four weeks of feeding lipid-supplemented diets (20 g % w/w) containing sunflower oil-lard (1:1) mixture (SL group) or margarine (M group). Our results showed a decreased cardiolipin content and distribution in both experimental groups and an increased lysophosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylcholine content and distribution in the SL group with a tendency to lower phosphatidylcholine/phospatidylethanolamine ratio in both experimental groups. In the SL group, the content of saturated fatty acids was higher and that of monounsaturated fatty acids was lower than in the control group. The M group showed inverse results. The content of saturated fatty acids was lower and that of monounsaturated was higher than in the control group. Polyunsaturated n-6 fatty acids were decreased in both experimental groups and n-3 fatty acids were increased in the M group. Feeding lipid-supplemented diets reduced n-6/n-3 and 20:4/22:6 ratios in the M group. The polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio was lower in the SL and higher in indicating the M group than in the control group. Our results are in agreement with the other reports indicating that the heart is sensitive to diet-induced lipid alterations.     

Sarcolemmal phospholipid fatty acid composition and permeability

In this study, the mechanism of ischaemia-induced increased sarcolemmal permeability, as manifested by release of intracellular enzymes, was investigated. The role of changes in the sarcolemmal phospholipid bilayer in this process was evaluated by experimental modulation of the phospholipid fatty acid composition. The isolated perfused rat heart subjected to low-flow hypoxia, was used as a model of global ischaemia. Glucose as well as saturated (palmitate) and unsaturated (linoleate) long-chain fatty acids were used as substrates. Hearts perfused with palmitate or linoleate (1.5 mM, fatty acid/albumin ratio, 3.4) showed a significantly higher rate of lactate dehydrogenase release in both control and ischaemic conditions than hearts perfused with glucose (10 mM). Lactate dehydrogenase release in the fatty acid-perfused hearts was associated with a significant increase in the percentage unsaturation of the sarcolemmal phospholipid fatty acids. Glucose-perfused hearts, on the other hand, showed only minor changes in the sarcolemmal phospholipid fatty acid composition. Attempts to correlate enzyme release directly with an increase in the percentage unsaturation of phospholipid fatty acids failed, since enzyme release was also stimulated in control fatty-acid-perfused hearts which (when compared with glucose) contained a higher percentage saturated phospholipid fatty acids. The results suggest that myocardial ischaemia, apart from changes in the sarcolemmal phospholipid fatty acid composition, also induces several other changes in sarcolemmal composition (e.g., cholesterol loss) which may affect is permeability for macromolecules.     

Heart and liver fatty acid composition and vitamin E content in miniature swie fed diets containing corn and menhaden oils

Female miniature swine, 4–11 yr, were fed 15% fat diets containing n-3 and/or n-6 polyunsaturated fat for 6 months, at 1.95 g fat/kg body weight. Liver lipids from menhaden oil-fed minipigs were elevated in the n-3 fatty acids: 20:5, 22:5 and 22:6, but heart lipids only in 20:5 and 22:6. Liver cell plasma membrane was elevated in 20:5, 22:5 and 22:6 and lowered in the n-6 acids 18:2 and 20:4 in menhaden oil-fed animals, to a greater extent than in the total tissue lipids. Liver α-tocopherol tended to decrease upon feedin menhaden oil, but heart α-tocopherol concentrations were not affected.     

Lipid composition, phospholipid profile and fatty acid of rat caecal mucosa.

In this study, we examined the lipid composition of rat caecal mucosa, including the fatty acid composition of major phospholipid classes. Phospholipids accounted for 90% of the total lipid, with cholesterol, triacylglycerols, diacylglycerols, fatty acids and cholesterol ester making up the remainder. Therefore, a phospholipid to neutral lipid ration of 9:1 was found. Phosphatidylethanolamine was the predominant phospholipid, with phosphatidylcholine as the second most abundant phospholipid. Cardiolipin, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol and lysophosphatidylcholine were present in lesser amounts. Sphingomyelin and lysophosphatidylethanolamine were only detected in trace amounts. The major fatty acids present in both the lipid and all phospholipid fractions were palmitate, stearate, oleate, linoleate and arachidonate. Other fatty acids of chain length greater than C20 were only detected in phospholipid fraction and accounted for < 5% of the total fatty acids in this fraction. However, 11.10% of 22:6 (n-3) and 7.17% of 24:0 were detected in phosphatidylserine and lysophosphatidylcholine, respectively. The results are discussed in terms of their possible physiological significance.     

Effects of pesticides on the fatty acid and phospholipid composition of Escherichia coli.

Cells of Escherichia coli contained an altered phospholipid and fatty acid composition when grown in the presence of some pesticides. Whereas parathion increased the concentration of all phospholipid species without changes in their polar head groups. DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) decreased the proportion of neutral serine-derived phosphatides and dieldrin decreased the proportion of negatively charged phospholipids. The saturated/unsaturated plus cyclopropane fatty acid ratio was increased in all cases. The changes suggested that cells adapted their membrane lipids to compensate for the presence of pesticides in the environment.     

Specific phospholipid fatty acid composition of brain regions in mice. Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency and phospholipid supplementation

This study examined the effects of dietary alpha-linolenic acid deficiency followed or not by supplementation with phospholipids rich in n;-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) on the fatty acid composition of total phospholipids in 11 brain regions. Three weeks before mating, mice were fed a semisynthetic diet containing both linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid or deficient in alpha-linolenic acid. Pups were fed the same diet as their dams. At the age of 7 weeks, a part of the deficient group were supplemented with n;-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from either egg yolk or pig brain phospholipids for 2 months. Saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid levels varied among brain regions and were not significantly affected by the diet. In control mice, the level of 22:6 n-3 was significantly higher in the frontal cortex compared to all regions. alpha-Linolenic acid deficiency decreased the level of 22:6 n-3 and was compensated by an increase in 22:5 n-6 in all regions. However, the brain regions were affected differently. After the pituitary gland, the frontal cortex, and the striatum were the most markedly affected with 40% reduction of 22:6 n-3. Supplementation with egg yolk or cerebral phospholipids in deficient mice restored a normal fatty acid composition in brain regions except for the frontal cortex. There was a regional distribution of the fatty acids in the brain and the impact of deficiency in alpha-linolenic acid was region-specific. Dietary egg yolk or cerebral phospholipids are an effective source of n-3 PUFA for the recovery of altered fatty acid composition induced by a diet deficient in n-3 PUFA.     

Effect of N-palmitoylethanolamine on phospholipid and fatty acid level in ischemic rat liver under reperfusion

The effect of 10(-5) M N-palmitoylethanolamine (NPE) on lipid peroxidation processes, phospholipid and fatty acid content in the ischemic rat liver under reperfusion was estimated. It was shown the significant accumulation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), the increase of lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPC), phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingomyelin, general cholesterol content and also the decrease of phosphatidylcholine amount in the ischemic rat liver under reperfusion. Simultaneously the redistribution of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids quantity was detected, that indicates the increasing of membrane rigidity. The addition of NPE into the Eurocollins and Bretshneider's solutions under perfusion and preservation of a donor organ reduced the accumulation of TBARS, LPC, total cholesterol, prevented the changes of cholesterol/phospholipids and saturated/unsaturated fatty acids ratio value in the same experimental conditions. These effects, evidently, formed the basis of the protective action of NPE on the ischemic liver tissues under reperfusion.     

Peculiarities of the phospholipid and fatty acid composition of erythrocyte plasma membranes of the Black Sea fish

The phospholipid and the fatty acid composition of the main phospholipids families of erythrocyte plasma membranes was studied in two species of cartilaginous fish: the common thrasher (Raja clavata L.) and the common stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca) and three bony fish species: the scorpion fish (Scorpaena porcus L.), the smarida (Spicara flexuosa Raf.), and the horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus ponticus Aleev). It was shown that in the studied fish, 70.0-80.0 % of all membrane phospholipids were composed of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Phosphatidylserine, monophosphoinositide, and sphingomyelin were minor components whose content in the erythrocyte membrane fluctuated from 3.0 % to 13.0 %. The fatty acid phospholipids composition was represented by a large specter of acids. From saturated acids, basic for plasma membranes are palmitic (C16: 0) and stearic (C18: 0) acids. From unsaturated acids, the larger part belong to mono-, tetra-, penta-, and hexaenoic acids in fish phospholipids. The calculation of the double bond index and of the unsaturation coefficient showed difference in the deformation ability of erythrocyte membranes of the studied fish.     

Peculiarities of the phospholipid and fatty acid composition of erythrocyte plasma membranes of the black sea fish

The phospholipid and the fatty acid composition of the main phospholipid families of erythrocyte plasma membranes was studied in two species of cartilaginous fish: the common thrasher (Raja clavata L.) and the common stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca) and in three bony fish species: the scorpion fish (Scorpaena porcus L.), the smarida (Spicara flexuosa Raf.), and the horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus ponticus Aleev). It was shown that in the studied fish, 70.0–80.0% of all membrane phospholipids were composed of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Phosphatidylserine, monophosphoinositide, and sphingomyelin were minor components whose content in the erythrocyte membrane fluctuated from 3.0% to 13.0%. The fatty acid phospholipids composition was represented by a large specter of acids. From saturated acids, basic for plasma membranes are palmitic (C16: 0) and stearic (C18: 0) acids. From unsaturated acids, the larger part belongs to mono-, tetra-, penta-, and hexaenoic acids in fish phospholipids. The calculation of the double bond index and of the unsaturation coefficient showed difference in the deformation ability of erythrocyte membranes of the studied fish.     

Effects of selenium deficiency on fatty acid metabolism in rats fed fish oil-enriched diets.

The hepatic fatty acid metabolism was investigated in rats stressed by selenium deficiency and enhanced fish oil intake. Changes in the composition of lipids, peroxides, and fatty acids were studied in the liver of rats fed either a Sedeficient (8 microg Se/kg) or a Se-adequate (300 microg Se/kg) diet, both rich in n-3 fatty acid-containing fish oil (100 g/kg diet) and vitamin E (146 mg alpha-tocopherol/kg diet). The two diets were identical except for their Se content. Se deficiency led to a decrease in hair coat density and quality as well as to changes in liver lipids, individual lipid fractions and phospholipid fatty acid composition of the liver. The low Se status did reduce total and reduced glutathione in the liver but did not affect the hepatic malondialdehyde level. In liver phospholipids (PL), Se deficiency significantly reduced levels of palmitic acid [16:0], fatty acids of the n-3 series such as DHA [22:6 n-3], and other long-chain polyunsaturates C-20-C-22, but increased n-6 fatty acids such as linoleic acid (LA) [18:2 n-6]. Thus, the conversion of LA to arachidonic acid was reduced and the ratio of n-6/n-3 fatty acids was increased. As in liver PL, an increase in the n-6/n-3 ratio was also observed in the mucosal total fatty acids of the small intestine. These results suggest that in rats with adequate vitamin E and enhanced fish oil intake, Se deficiency affects the lipid concentration and fatty acid composition in the liver. The changes may be related to the decreased levels of selenoenzymes with antioxidative functions. Possible effects of Se on absorption, storage and desaturation of fatty acids were also discussed.     

Effects of sodium chloride concentration on phospholipid fatty acid composition of yeasts differing in osmotolerance

The effect of growth medium NaCl concentration on the fatty acid composition of phospholipids of 3 strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and 6 osmotolerant yeast strains was examined. The S. cerevisiae strains were characterized by a high content of palmitoleic (C_16:1) acid and by having no polyunsaturated C₁₈ acids, whereas the osmotolerant strains had a low content of C_16:1 and a high proportion of polyenoic C₁₈ acids. An increase of the NaCl concentration from 0% to 8% resulted in a decrease of the cellular phospholipid content on a dry-weight basis, for all strains but one of the osmotolerant strains. For the S. cerevisiae strains increased salinity produced a slight decrease of the proportion of C₁₆ fatty acids with a concomitant increase of C₁₈ acids, whereas the osmotolerant strains showed an increase of the relative content of oleic acid (C_18:1) at the expense of the proportion of polyenoic C₁₈ acids.     

Dietary protein and fatty acid composition of liver lipids in the rat

In order to compare the effects of different sources of dietary protein on the fatty acid composition of phosphatidylcholines (PC), phosphatidylethanolamines (PE), phosphatidylinositols (PI), cholesteryl esters and triacylglycerols, male rats were fed for a 4-week period on cholesterol-free, or cholesterol-containing, diets based on casein, or soybean protein and olive oil. The most conspicuous difference observed was the occurrence of significantly higher levels of 5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid, 20:3 (n - 9), in the different lipid classes of casein-fed, compared with soybean protein-fed, animals. In the PI fraction of livers from the groups of rats fed casein diet, this fatty acid amounted to between 9.9 and 13.3% by weight of the total fatty acids. Phospholipids from livers of casein-fed rats contained increased levels of oleic acid, 18:1 (n - 9) (in PC and PE) and reduced levels of stearic acid (18:0). Moreover, in this group of rats PI contained a reduced level of arachidonic acid, 20:4 (n - 6). A casein-related decrease in the linoleic acid, 18:2 (n - 6), content of PC and PE was observed only in the rats fed on cholesterol-free diet. Effects on the fatty acid composition were also observed in the triacyglycerol and cholesteryl ester fractions, in which the rats fed casein diet showed higher levels of palmitoleic acid, 16:1 (n - 7) (cholesterol-supplemented diet) and lower values for linoleic acid, than the soybean protein-fed rats.     

Effect of lidocaine on phospholipid and fatty acid composition of bacterial membranes

The effects of lidocaine on chemical composition of membrane phospholipids and membrane fluidity of Streptococcus mutans have been studied. Increasing concentra-tions of lidocaine induced both an increase in cardiolipin and a decrease in the degree of unsaturation of its fatty acid composition. A lidocaine-dependent decrease of membrane fluidity was observed from an electron spin resonance spectroscopic study. It was considered thal bacteria grown with lidocaine below its minimum inhibitory concentration resisted the effect of the drug by modifying phospholipid and fatty acid composition resulting in a decreased membrane fluidity.     

The effect of chemical hepatocarcinogenesis on liver phospholipid composition in rats fed N-6 and N-3 fatty acid-supplemented diets.

The effect of dietary fats on essential fatty acid metabolism in rats subjected to chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis was studied. Sixty male rats were fed a diet supplemented with one of the following three oil compositions: 10% hydrogenated coconut oil (HCO); 5% hydrogenated coconut oil and 5% gamma-linolenic acid (18:3n-6)-rich evening primrose oil (EPO); or 5% hydrogenated coconut oil and 5% marine oil (FO). Half of the animals in each dietary regimen were subjected to hepatocarcinogenesis induction using diethylnitrosamine and 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) followed by partial hepatectomy, whereas the other half underwent hepatectomy without receiving diethylnitrosamine and 2-acetylaminofluorene. Liver phospholipid composition was analyzed. In comparison to the HCO group, the EPO group showed raised levels of arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) and suppressed n-3 fatty acids. The FO group, on the other hand, showed suppressed levels of n-6 and increased n-3 fatty acids. Hepatocarcinogenesis suppressed the level of 20:4n-6 and this effect was greater in the FO rats. The levels of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (20:3n-6) were increased by the hepatocarcinogenic treatment, and this effect was further accentuated in the EPO rats. These results suggest that hepatocarcinogenesis may suppress the activity of delta-5-desaturase, which may be one of the reasons why tumor cell membranes have low levels of long chain fatty acids, especially 20:4n-6 cells, and have an impaired capacity to undergo lipid peroxidation.     

Effects of fatty acids and growth hormone on liver fatty acid binding protein and PPARalpha in rat liver

The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction between long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) and growth hormone (GH) in the regulation of liver fatty acid binding protein (LFABP) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha). Cultured rat hepatocytes were given oleic acid (OA; 500 microM) and GH (100 ng/ml) for 3 days. LFABP mRNA increased 3.6-fold by GH and 5.7-fold by OA, and combined incubation with GH and OA increased LFABP mRNA 17.6-fold. PPARalpha mRNA was decreased 50% by GH, but OA had no effect. Hypophysectomized (Hx) female rats were treated with L-thyroxine, cortisol, GH, and dietary fat for 7 days. PPARalpha mRNA levels were three- to fourfold higher in Hx than in normal female rats. GH decreased PPARalpha mRNA 50% in Hx rats. Dietary triglycerides (10% corn oil) increased LFABP mRNA and cytosolic LFABP about twofold but had no effect on PPARalpha mRNA in Hx rats. GH and dietary triglycerides had an additive effect on LFABP expression. Dietary triglycerides increased mitochondrial hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase mRNA only in the presence of GH. The diet increased serum triglycerides in Hx rats, and GH treatment prevented this increase. Addition of cholesterol to the diet did not influence LFABP levels but mitigated increased hepatic triglyceride content. In summary, these studies show that GH regulates LFABP expression independently of PPARalpha. Moreover, GH has different effects on PPARalpha-responsive genes and does not counteract the effect of LCFA on the expression of these gene products.