不同类型脂肪酸对SD大鼠血清脂肪酸及胰岛素抵抗的影响

目的分析中链饱和脂肪酸（MC-SFA,MCF组）、长链饱和脂肪酸（LC-SFA,LCF组）、n-6多不饱和脂肪酸（n-6 PUFA,SUF组）和n-3多不饱和脂肪酸（n-3 PUFA,TUF组）四种脂肪酸对大鼠血清脂肪酸及胰岛素抵抗的影响。方法雄性SD大鼠40只随机分为5组,对照组给予普通日粮,高脂组给予脂肪热量比相同的高脂日粮。喂养10周,每18 d测定空腹血糖（GLU）、血清脂肪酸、血清胰岛素水平,根据胰岛素敏感性指数（ISI）=ln1/（FPG×FINS）评定大鼠的胰岛素敏感性。结果10周后,LCF组和SUF组大鼠体重显著高于对照组和其它高脂组;LCF组血清胰岛素显著高于对照组（P﹤0.05）;LCF组、TUF组ISI显著低于对照组（P﹤0.05）;各组间血糖无明显差异（P〉0.05）。SUF组、TUF组血清LC-SFA浓度显著低于LCF组（P﹤0.05）;TUF组血清（n-3 PUFA）显著高于对照组和其它高脂组（P﹤0.05）。结论不同类型脂肪酸的高脂饲料对SD大鼠的血清脂肪酸组成和含量有显著的影响,SD大鼠脂肪沉积及胰岛素抵抗程度随血清脂肪酸代谢作用的不同而变化。     

氧化鱼油对草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idelluspond)肝胰脏、肠道胆固醇、胆汁酸合成代谢的影响

为了研究氧化鱼油对草鱼肝胰脏、肠道胆固醇、胆汁酸合成代谢的影响,本研究以豆油、鱼油、氧化鱼油作为饲料脂肪源,分别设计鱼油组(6F)、豆油组(6S)、2%氧化鱼油(2OF)、4%氧化鱼油(4OF)及6%氧化鱼油(6OF)5组等氮、等能半纯化饲料,在池塘网箱养殖平均体重为(74.8±1.2)g草鱼72 d。采用实时荧光定量PCR(q RT-PCR)的方法,测定了草鱼肝胰脏、肠道组织中四种胆固醇合成相关酶HMGCR、SREBP2、CETP、ABCA1和胆汁酸合成关键酶CYP7A1的基因表达活性,结合血清、肝胰脏和肠道TC、TBA含量分析了胆固醇、胆汁酸的合成强度的变化。结果显示:(1)添加氧化鱼油后,草鱼肝胰脏HMGCR基因表达活性显著上调(p0.05),ABCA1和CYP7A1基因表达活性显著下调(p0.05),肝胰脏TC、TBA含量显著增加(p0.05);(2)添加氧化鱼油后,草鱼肠道HMGCR基因表达活性显著上调(p0.05),CYP7A1基因表达活性显著下调(p0.05),肠道TC含量显著增加(p0.05),而TBA含量显著减少(p0.05);(3)添加鱼油或氧化鱼油后,饲料∑PUFA含量与肝胰脏ABCA1基因表达活性呈显著正相关关系(p0.05),饲料MDA含量与肠道ABCA1基因表达活性呈显著负相关关系(p0.05)。结果表明,随着饲料氧化鱼油添加量的增加,在饲料∑PUFA含量减少和鱼油氧化产物MDA含量增加的交互影响下,肝胰脏和肠道细胞胆固醇合成能力、向细胞内转运胆固醇的能力增强,向细胞外转运胆固醇的能力、以胆固醇为原料合成胆汁酸的能力减弱,致使肝胰脏、肠道、血清胆固醇含量增加、而血清、肠道胆汁酸含量减少。肝胰脏胆汁酸含量增加,显示肝胰脏有胆汁酸淤积的发展趋势。预示着鱼体生理代谢可能需要更多的胆固醇以满足生理代谢的需要,而鱼体胆汁酸可能出现供给不足。     

n-3多不饱和脂肪酸调节饮食诱导肥胖大鼠miRNA表达变化(英文)

目的:研究n-3多不饱和脂肪酸(polyunsaturated fatty acids,PUFA)饮食对饮食诱导肥胖大鼠的miR NA表达影响。方法:将10只饮食诱导肥胖(diet induced obese,DIO)大鼠随机分成两组:n-3PUFA添加组和安慰剂添加组(对照组);每周记录两组老鼠的体重、体长和进食量。对外周血miR NA的表达并进行分析和预测。结果:两组老鼠Lee指数有统计学差异(P0.05);与对照组相比,在n-3组的外周血单核细胞中,29个miR NA上调,31个下调;其中rno-miR-200和rno-miR-211的表达量上调,rno-miR-29b和rno-miR-92b的表达量下调,其靶基因预测结果与神经营养因子,脂肪细胞因子,趋化因子和胰岛素信号通路有关。结论:n-3PUFA能够调节DIO大鼠的miR NA水平,其中有些与脂肪代谢相关。     

n-3多不饱和脂肪酸调节饮食诱导肥胖大鼠miRNA表达变化

目的：研究n-3多不饱和脂肪酸（polyunsaturated fatty acids,PUFA）饮食对饮食诱导肥胖大鼠的miR NA表达影响。方法：将10只饮食诱导肥胖（diet induced obese,DIO）大鼠随机分成两组：n-3PUFA添加组和安慰剂添加组（对照组）;每周记录两组老鼠的体重、体长和进食量。对外周血miR NA的表达并进行分析和预测。结果：两组老鼠Lee指数有统计学差异（P〈0.05）;与对照组相比,在n-3组的外周血单核细胞中,29个miR NA上调,31个下调;其中rno-miR-200和rno-miR-211的表达量上调,rno-miR-29b和rno-miR-92b的表达量下调,其靶基因预测结果与神经营养因子,脂肪细胞因子,趋化因子和胰岛素信号通路有关。结论：n-3PUFA能够调节DIO大鼠的miR NA水平,其中有些与脂肪代谢相关。     

n-3PUFA对高脂SHR 大鼠血压及血浆游离脂肪酸谱的影响

目的:观察高饱和脂肪酸及n-3多不饱和脂肪酸饮食后对自发性高血压大鼠血压、静息心率、体重、血脂、血糖及游离脂肪酸谱的影响。方法:选择8周龄雄性自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)30只和同龄对照大鼠(WKY)30只,随机分为6组:SHR、WKY普通饲料组各10只,SHR、WKY高脂组各10只,SHR、WKY高脂加鱼油饮食组各10只,持续喂养至16周龄。干预期间每两周测定血压和体重,干预前后测定静息心率、血脂、血糖及血浆游离脂肪酸谱。结果:(1)血压和静息心率的变化:SHR大鼠高脂饮食组较普食组血压水平显著性增高,而高脂加鱼油饮食组较高脂饮食组血压水平显著性减低;WKY大鼠高脂饮食组较普食组血压水平显著性增高,而高脂加鱼油饮食组较高脂饮食组血压水平显著性减低;SHR大鼠高脂饮食组较普食组静息心率显著性增高(P=0.007),而高脂加鱼油饮食组较高脂饮食组静息心率有下降趋势,但差异无显著性(P=0.125),WKY大鼠静息心率各组间无明显差异。(2)血浆游离脂肪酸谱:与WKY大鼠比较,SHR大鼠中亚麻酸(Linolenic acid,ALA)、花生四烯酸(Linoleic Acid,AA)与n-6多不饱和脂肪酸(n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids,n-6PUFA含量增高,高脂饮食增加了饱和脂肪酸(Saturated fatty acid,SFA),有显著差异(P0.05),高脂鱼油组二十二碳六烯酸(Docosahexaenoic acid,DHA)及二十碳五烯酸(Docosapentaenoic acid,EPA)增加导致n-3多不饱和脂肪酸(n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids,n-3PUFA)含量增加(P0.05),SHR大鼠高脂鱼油组亚油酸(Linoleic Acid,LA)、AA含量减低(P0.05)。结论:膳食补充n-3PUFA可能通过影响交感神经活性和血浆脂肪酸谱的组成而改善高饱和脂肪酸所致SHR大鼠的血压升高。     

n-3多不饱和脂肪酸通过增加肝脏脂氧素A5含量改善高同型半胱氨酸血症引起的肝脏脂肪变性

非酒精性脂肪性肝脏疾病与高同型半胱氨酸血症(hyperhomocysteinemia, HHcy)均为世界范围内的重要健康问题,二者发病密切相关。我们前期报道了HHcy引起脂肪肝的作用机制,但n-3多不饱和脂肪酸(n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, n-3PUFA)在其中的作用尚未有明确报道。本研究通过给予6周龄C57BL/6雄性小鼠高蛋氨酸饮食(2%highmethioninediet,HMD),通过ELISA技术检测血浆同型半胱氨酸的水平,以明确HHcy模型的建立。同时添加或不添加n-3PUFA喂养,以明确n-3 PUFA在HHcy引起肝脏脂肪变性中的作用及机制。结果显示,n-3 PUFA显著改善了HHcy引起的肝脏脂质沉积。qRTPCR分析发现n-3 PUFA抑制了HHcy诱导的脂肪酸摄取关键基因Cd36的表达。进一步分析发现Cd36的表达降低与n-3 PUFA引起的芳香烃受体(aryl hydrocarbon receptor, Ahr)活性抑制相关。利用PUFA靶向代谢组学分析发现,与HMD组相比,n-3 PUFA明显增加了肝脏二十碳五烯酸代谢产物脂氧素A5 (lipoxin A5, LXA_5)的含量。用LXA_5处理分离的原代肝细胞,阻断了同型半胱氨酸诱导的Cd36表达上调和Ahr激活,减轻了脂质沉积。以上结果表明,n-3 PUFA通过增加肝脏LXA_5的含量,抑制HHcy引起的Ahr-Cd36信号通路的激活,改善肝脏的脂肪变性。本研究结果预期可为非酒精性脂肪性肝脏疾病的临床治疗开辟新的途径。     

苏子油对肥胖大鼠肝脏极低密度脂蛋白合成关键基因表达的影响

目的探究富含n-3多不饱和脂肪酸(polyunsaturated fatty acid,PUFA)的苏子油高脂饮食对肥胖大鼠肝脏极低密度脂蛋白(very low density lipoproteins,VLDL)合成关键基因表达的影响。方法造模期:雄性SD大鼠随机分为2组,对照组(normal control group,NC)给予普通日粮,高脂组(high fat group,HF)给予高脂纯合日粮诱发肥胖大鼠模型;干预期:将肥胖大鼠随机分为4组:持续高脂组(consistent high fat group,CHF)和三个苏子油(perilla oil,PO)替代组,根据PO替代CHF中猪油比例的不同将替代组分为20%PO、50%PO、100%PO,4周后测定大鼠血清甘油三酯(tryglyceride,TG)水平;western blotting方法检测肝脏VLDL合成关键蛋白微粒体甘油三脂转运蛋白(microsomal triglyceride transfer protein,MTP)和载脂蛋白B(apolipoprotein B,APOB)蛋白表达;real-time PCR方法检测肝脏Mtp、Apob mRNA表达。结果肥胖大鼠血清TG水平显著高于NC组,并且有严重的脂肪沉积,肝脏MTP和APOB的mRNA、蛋白表达均有不同程度的降低;干预4周后,与CHF组相比,各PO替代组大鼠血清TG水平明显降低,病理切片结果显示肝脏脂肪沉积有明显改善,并且肝脏MTP和APOB的mRNA、蛋白表达均有不同程度的升高。结论不同比例PO替代均能促进肥胖大鼠肝脏VLDL合成与分泌,改善肝脏脂肪沉积,并且PO促进Mtp mRNA、蛋白表达具有剂量依赖性。     

n-3多不饱和脂肪酸对2型糖尿病患者血脂及炎症因子的影响

【摘要】 目的 ①观察不同成分的n-3PUFA对2型糖尿病患者血脂水平的影响;②观察不同成分的n-3PUFA对2型糖尿病患者C反应蛋白和白介素-6的影响。方法采用随机双盲对照方法,将108例2型糖尿病患者随机分为3组,分别服用含有不同成分（ALA、EPA、DHA)的 n-3PUFA胶囊4g/d,观察时间为6个月,A组（金枪鱼油组,胶囊成分n-3PUFA-DHA+EPA）,B组（亚麻籽油组,胶囊成分为n-3PUFA-ALA）,C组（玉米油组,对照组）。分别在基线、3个月、6个月时检测血脂、白介素-6和C反应蛋白等实验数据,进行统计学分析。结果①组内比较： A组在3月时HDL较治疗前升高,其差异具有统计学意义（p<0.05）,6月时具有显著统计学差异（p<0.01）;6月时,TC水平较治疗前降低,其差异具有统计学意义（p<0.05）;B组和C组3月、6月时,血脂无明显变化（均p>0.05）。组间比较：3月时,三组患者血脂水平均无显著差异（均p>0.05）;6月时A组和C组之间HDL水平差异具有统计学意义（p<0.05）。②组内比较：A组CRP和IL-6水平在3月时均较治疗前降低,其差异具有统计学意义（p<0.05）,6月时具有显著统计学差异（p<0.01）;B组和C组3月、6月时,CRP和IL-6水平无明显变化（均p>0.05）。组间比较：3月时,三组CRP和IL-6水平均无显著差异（均p>0.05）;6月时A组和C组之间CRP和IL-6水平差异具有统计学意义（p<0.05）。 结论 ①服用n-3PUFA（金枪鱼油,胶囊成分n-3PUFA-DHA+EPA ）4g/d可以升高2型糖尿病患者高密度脂蛋白,同时降低总胆固醇水平;②服用n-3PUFA（金枪鱼油,胶囊成分n-3PUFA-DHA+EPA ）4g/d可以降低糖尿病患者C反应蛋白和白介素-6水平。     

黄芪汤对延缓C离子辐射致大鼠肾组织细胞凋亡的影响及相关机制

目的: 探讨黄芪汤抑制¹²C⁶⁺离子辐射脑模型鼠肾组织细胞凋亡的分子保护机制。方法: 50只SPF级Wistar大鼠随机分为正常对照组,单纯辐射模型组,黄芪汤(高、中、低剂量)组。正常对照组和单纯辐射模型组给予等体积生理盐水灌胃10 ml/(kg·d),黄芪汤治疗组分别灌胃给予黄芪汤18、9、4.5 g/(kg·d),连续给药2周。7 d后除正常对照组外,其余各组大鼠脑组织给予4Gy ¹²C⁶⁺离子束单次照射,辐射后第7日处死各组大鼠。HE染色法观察大鼠肾脏的病理形态变化,ELISA法检测大鼠血清IL-6的含量,实时荧光定量PCR法测定大鼠肾脏Bcl-2、Bax和Caspase-3的基因表达,免疫组化法检测大鼠肾脏Bcl-2、Bax、Caspase-3和NF-κB的蛋白表达。结果: 与正常对照组比较,单纯辐射模型组体重和肾脏指数均显著降低,血清IL-6的含量显著升高,肾脏Bcl-2的基因表达和蛋白表达均显著降低,Bax和Caspase-3的基因表达和蛋白表达均显著升高,NF-κB的蛋白表达也显著升高(P＜ 0.01),单纯辐射组肾小球系膜细胞明显增生,肾小管间质血管明显扩张充血,肾小管管腔狭窄、不规则。与单纯辐射模型组相比,黄芪汤高剂量组体重和肾脏指数均明显升高,黄芪汤各干预组肾脏Bcl-2的基因表达和蛋白表达均显著升高(P＜0.05或P＜0.01);而黄芪汤中、高剂量组Bax和Caspase-3的蛋白表达均显著降低,各干预组血清IL-6的含量显著降低,肾脏Bax和Caspase-3的基因表达均显著降低,肾脏NF-κB的蛋白表达显著下降(P＜0.05或P＜0.01),黄芪汤高剂量组可见肾小球系膜细胞增生情况明显改善,肾小管轮廓清晰。结论: 黄芪汤对¹²C⁶⁺离子辐射脑模型鼠的肾损伤具有一定的防护作用,其作用机制可能与调控Bcl-2/NF-κB信号通路有关。     

n-6/n-3多不饱和脂肪酸比例对机体生理功能的调节

多不饱和脂肪酸(Polyunsaturated fatty acids,PUFA),尤其是n-6和n-3 PUFAs,不仅是人体必需营养素,在调节和预防人类疾病方面同时发挥着重要作用。n-6和n-3 PUFAs在哺乳动物细胞内不能相互转换,且是动植物细胞膜的重要组成成分,具有不同的生理功能。细胞膜多不饱和脂肪酸组成比例很大程度上由膳食决定,因此平衡膳食中n-6/n-3 PUFAs具有重要意义。本文总结了n-6和n-3 PUFAs的代谢途径和作用机制,结合临床试验,阐述了平衡n-6/n-3 PUFA的重要性。     

Elevated n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio in early life diet reverses adverse intrauterine kidney programming in female rats

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) predisposes to chronic kidney disease via activation of proinflammatory pathways, and omega-3 PUFAs (n-3 PUFAs) have anti-inflammatory properties. In female rats, we investigated 1) how an elevated dietary n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio (1:1) during postnatal kidney development modifies kidney phospholipid (PL) and arachidonic acid (AA) metabolite content and 2) whether the diet counteracts adverse molecular protein signatures expected in IUGR kidneys. IUGR was induced by bilateral uterine vessel ligation or intrauterine stress through sham operation 3.5 days before term. Control (C) offspring were born after uncompromised pregnancy. On postnatal (P) days P2–P39, rats were fed control (n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio 1:20) or n-3 PUFA intervention diet (N3PUFA; ratio 1:1). Plasma parameters (P33), kidney cortex lipidomics and proteomics, as well as histology (P39) were studied. We found that the intervention diet tripled PL-DHA content (PC 40:6; P < 0.01) and lowered both PL-AA content (PC 38:4 and lyso-phosphatidylcholine 20:4; P < 0.05) and AA metabolites (HETEs, dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids, and epoxyeicosatrienoic acids) to 25% in all offspring groups. After ligation, our network analysis of differentially expressed proteins identified an adverse molecular signature indicating inflammation and hypercoagulability. N3PUFA diet reversed 61 protein alterations (P < 0.05), thus mitigating adverse IUGR signatures. In conclusion, an elevated n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio in early diet strongly reduces proinflammatory PLs and mediators while increasing DHA-containing PLs regardless of prior intrauterine conditions. Counteracting a proinflammatory hypercoagulable protein signature in young adult IUGR individuals through early diet intervention may be a feasible strategy to prevent developmentally programmed kidney damage in later life.     

Gender-related long-term effects in adult rats by perinatal dietary ratio of n-6/n-3 fatty acids

Epidemiological studies in humans have shown that perinatal nutrition affects health later in life. We have previously shown that the ratio of n-6 to n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the maternal diet affects serum leptin levels and growth of the suckling pups. The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term effects of various ratios of the dietary n-6 and n-3 PUFA during the perinatal period on serum leptin, insulin, and triacylglycerol, as well as body growth in the adult offspring. During late gestation and throughout lactation, rats were fed an isocaloric diet containing 7 wt% fat, either as linseed oil (n-3 diet), soybean oil (n-6/n-3 diet), or sunflower oil (n-6 diet). At 3 wk of age, the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios in the serum phospholipids of the offspring were 2.5, 8.3, and 17.5, respectively. After weaning, all pups were given a standard chow. At the 28th postnatal wk, mean body weight and fasting insulin levels were significantly increased in the rats fed the n-6/n-3 diet perinatally compared with the other groups. The systolic blood pressure and serum triacylglycerol levels were only increased in adult male rats of the same group. These data suggest that the balance between n-6 and n-3 PUFA during perinatal development affects several metabolic parameters in adulthood, especially in the male animals.     

Neuropathological Responses to Chronic NMDA in Rats Are Worsened by Dietary n-3 PUFA Deprivation but Are Not Ameliorated by Fish Oil Supplementation

Background

Dietary long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation may be beneficial for chronic brain illnesses, but the issue is not agreed on. We examined effects of dietary n-3 PUFA deprivation or supplementation, compared with an n-3 PUFA adequate diet (containing alpha-linolenic acid [18:3 n-3] but not docosahexaenoic acid [DHA, 22:6n-3]), on brain markers of lipid metabolism and excitotoxicity, in rats treated chronically with NMDA or saline.

Methods

Male rats after weaning were maintained on one of three diets for 15 weeks. After 12 weeks, each diet group was injected i.p. daily with saline (1 ml/kg) or a subconvulsive dose of NMDA (25 mg/kg) for 3 additional weeks. Then, brain fatty acid concentrations and various markers of excitotoxicity and fatty acid metabolism were measured.

Results

Compared to the diet-adequate group, brain DHA concentration was reduced, while n-6 docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5n-6) concentration was increased in the n-3 deficient group; arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) concentration was unchanged. These concentrations were unaffected by fish oil supplementation. Chronic NMDA increased brain cPLA₂ activity in each of the three groups, but n-3 PUFA deprivation or fish oil did not change cPLA₂ activity or protein compared with the adequate group. sPLA₂ expression was unchanged in the three conditions, whereas iPLA₂ expression was reduced by deprivation but not changed by supplementation. BDNF protein was reduced by NMDA in N-3 PUFA deficient rats, but protein levels of IL-1β, NGF, and GFAP did not differ between groups.

Conclusions

N-3 PUFA deprivation significantly worsened several pathological NMDA-induced changes produced in diet adequate rats, whereas n-3 PUFA supplementation did not affect NMDA induced changes. Supplementation may not be critical for this measured neuropathology once the diet has an adequate n-3 PUFA content.     

Fifteen weeks of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deprivation increase turnover of n-6 docosapentaenoic acid in rat-brain phospholipids

Docosapentaenoic acid (DPAn-6, 22:5n-6) is an n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) whose brain concentration can be increased in rodents by dietary n-3 PUFA deficiency, which may contribute to their behavioral dysfunction. We used our in vivo intravenous infusion method to see if brain DPAn-6 turnover and metabolism also were altered with deprivation. We studied male rats that had been fed for 15weeks post-weaning an n-3 PUFA adequate diet containing 4.6% alpha-linolenic acid (α-LNA, 18:3n-3) or a deficient diet (0.2% α-LNA), each lacking docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6). [1-(14)C]DPAn-6 was infused intravenously for 5min in unanesthetized rats, after which the brain underwent high-energy microwaving, and then was analyzed. The n-3 PUFA deficient compared with adequate diet increased DPAn-6 and decreased DHA concentrations in plasma and brain, while minimally changing brain AA concentration. Incorporation rates of unesterified DPAn-6 from plasma into individual brain phospholipids were increased 5.2-7.7 fold, while turnover rates were increased 2.1-4.7 fold. The observations suggest that increased metabolism and brain concentrations of DPAn-6 and its metabolites, together with a reduced brain DHA concentration, contribute to behavioral and functional abnormalities reported with dietary n-3 PUFA deprivation in rodents. (196 words).     

Dietary n-6 PUFA deprivation for 15 weeks reduces arachidonic acid concentrations while increasing n-3 PUFA concentrations in organs of post-weaning male rats

Few studies have examined effects of feeding animals a diet deficient in n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) but with an adequate amount of n-3 PUFAs. To do this, we fed post-weaning male rats a control n-6 and n-3 PUFA adequate diet and an n-6 deficient diet for 15 weeks, and measured stable lipid and fatty acid concentrations in different organs. The deficient diet contained nutritionally essential linoleic acid (LA,18:2n-6) as 2.3% of total fatty acids (10% of the recommended minimum LA requirement for rodents) but no arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6), and an adequate amount (4.8% of total fatty acids) of α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3). The deficient compared with adequate diet did not significantly affect body weight, but decreased testis weight by 10%. AA concentration was decreased significantly in serum (− 86%), brain (− 27%), liver (− 68%), heart (− 39%), testis (− 25%), and epididymal adipose tissue (− 77%). Eicosapentaenoic (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) concentrations were increased in all but adipose tissue, and the total monounsaturated fatty acid concentration was increased in all organs. The concentration of 20:3n-9, a marker of LA deficiency, was increased by the deficient diet, and serum concentrations of triacylglycerol, total cholesterol and total phospholipid were reduced. In summary, 15 weeks of dietary n-6 PUFA deficiency with n-3 PUFA adequacy significantly reduced n-6 PUFA concentrations in different organs of male rats, while increasing n-3 PUFA and monounsaturated fatty acid concentrations. This rat model could be used to study metabolic, functional and behavioral effects of dietary n-6 PUFA deficiency.     

n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) deficiency elevates and n-3 PUFA enrichment reduces brain 2-arachidonoylglycerol level in mice

2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is a putative endogenous ligand for cannabinoid receptors and was suggested to play an important role in both physiological and pathological events in the central nervous system (CNS) as well as in peripheral organs. The sequential hydrolysis of arachidonic acid (20:4n-6, AA)-containing phospholipids has been proposed as a major biosynthetic route of 2-AG. On the other hand, the manipulation of the dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) status changes the AA level in tissue phospholipids. We, therefore, conducted two separate experiments to confirm whether the dietary n-3 PUFA status influences the 2-AG level in the mouse brain. In the first experiment, we fed mice with n-3 PUFA-deficient diet, which resulted in a marked decrease in the docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA) levels without a change in the AA level in brain phospholipids as compared with the mice fed with an n-3 PUFA-sufficient diet. The brain 2-AG level in the n-3 PUFA-deficient group was significantly higher than in the n-3 PUFA sufficient group. In the second experiment, we found that short-term supplementation of DHA-rich fish oil reduced brain 2-AG level as compared with the supplementation with low n-3 PUFA. The decrease in the AA level and the increase in the DHA level in the major phospholipids occurred in the brains of the mice fed the fish oil diet compared with those fed the low n-3 PUFA diet. Our results indicate that the n-3 PUFA deficiency elevates and n-3 PUFA enrichment reduces the brain 2-AG level in mice, suggesting that physiological and pathological events mediated by 2-AG through cannabinoid receptor in the CNS could be modified by the manipulation of the dietary n-3 PUFA status.     

Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids affect the development of renovascular hypertension in rats.

The consequences of a dietary n-3 PUFA supply was investigated on the blood pressure (BP) increase elicited by left renal artery stenosis in rats distributed in 3 groups (n = 8) fed for 8 weeks a semi-purified diet either as control diet or enriched diets (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA, or eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA). The PUFA intake induced large alterations in heart and kidney phospholipid fatty acid profile, but did not influence body weight, cardiac hypertrophy, renal left atrophy and right hypertrophy. Within 4 weeks, BP raised from 120-180 +/- 2 mm Hg in the control group, but only to 165 +/- 3 mm Hg in the n-3 PUFA groups. After stabilization of BP in the 3 groups, the rats received a short administration of increasing dose of perindopril. The lower dose (0.5 mg/kg) moderately decreased BP only in the control group. With higher doses (1, 5 and 10 mg/kg) BP was normalized in the 3 groups, with a higher amplitude of the BP lowering effect in the control group. A moderate n-3 PUFA intake can contribute to prevent the development of peripheral hypertension in rats by a mechanism that may involve angiotensin converting enzyme.