Fatty acid composition of heart cells exposed to thermally oxidized fats

Corn oil and olive oil were thermally oxidized, and the free fatty acids from the fresh fats, and from the distillable non-urea-adductable (DNUA) fractions of the thermally oxidized fats were prepared. These were added as emulsions to the medium of primary cultures of heart endothelial and muscle cells from neonatal rats. After exposure for 24 hr, the fatty acid composition of the triacylglycerol (TC) and phospholipid (PL) fractions of the cells was determined. Reflecting the nature of the fat used, the corn oil treatment produced relatively higher concentrations of linoleic acid in the TG and PL fractions compared to the olive oil treatment, in which case the oleic acid level was influenced. Treatment of the cultured cells with components derived from oxidized corn oil or oxidized olive oil resulted in lower concentrations of linoleic an arachidonic acids in the PL moieties compared to the fresh fat controls. However, there were marked increases in arachidonic acid in the TG fractions of both the endothelial and muscle cells. These changes due to the DNUA from thermally oxidized fats indicate a distinct metabolic response to the derivatives formed during thermal oxidation of the fats.

Effects of prolonged cyanide and thiocyanate feeding in rats

Male weaning rats were fed a semipurified diet containing 10% casein; this diet restricted in methionine, vitamin B12, and iodine; or the complete and restricted diets supplemented with either 1500 ppm potassium cyanide or 2240 ppm potassium thiocyanate for 11.5 mo. There were no deaths or clinical signs of toxicity. Cyanide, but not thiocyanate, caused a consistent reduction in weight gain in the complete and restricted groups. Both cyanide and thiocyanate caused decreased thyroid gland activity in young rats, particularly in the restricted groups. Plasma thyroxine concentrations were maintained in the mature cyanide-treated rats, even though secretion rates were decreased. However, the mature thiocyanate-treated animals showed decreased plasma thyroxine concentrations, despite thyroid gland enlargement. Modest primary myelin degeneration in the spinal cord white matter was found in the restricted group and in rats receiving this diet supplemented with either cyanide or thiocyanate. The lesions did not resemble those of a vitamin B12 deficiency in appearance or those of acute cyanide intoxication in distribution. Because of tissue autolysis, it could not be determined whether these changes resulted from histotoxic anoxia or an alteration of oligodendroglial myelin metabolism.

Subchronic toxicity test for two thermotolerant filamentous fungi used for single cell protein production

Safety evaluations of two thermotolerant filamentous fungi, Cephalosporium eichhorniae 152 (C. 152) and Rhizopus chinensis 180 (R. 180), grown on a sugar-salts medium were carried out through feeding the biomases to rats at 20% or 40% dietary levels for 90 days. There was a control group fed soybean meal. Weight gain and feed consumption for rats fed 20% C. 152 were equal to those for the control animals, but were depressed in the other three groups, especially the rats fed R. 180. All animals appeared normal and healthy except that transient alopecia was found for a short duration in the fungi-treated rats in the initial period. The cause of this lesion is not clear. At the end of the feeding trial, clinical determinations of constituents in blood and urine samples were conducted. The animals were autopsied and weights for four organs were taken. Histopathological examinations for 26 different tissues were carried out. Mild changes were found in both C. 152 and R. 180-treated rats but most of the these were not considered to be related to treatment.

Uptake and utilization of 1-14C palmitic acid by heart cells treated with fresh or thermally oxidized fats

The effects of fractions isolated from thermally oxidized corn oil or olive oil on the metabolic activity of heart endothelial and muscle cells were studied. Rat heart cells in culture, exposed to thermally oxidized fat components, took up more exogenous 1-14C-palmitic acid and incorporated more of it into the cell triacylglycerol fraction than when the cells were treated with fresh fats. Particularly with the heated corn oil compared to fresh corn oil, much less of the radioactivity from the labeled palmitic acid was deposited in the phospholipid fraction. Also, with heated corn oil when the incubation period was extended beyond 12 hr, there was a decline in the radioactivity retained in the triacylglycerol fraction of the heart muscle cells. When the fresh fats were compared for 14C-radioactivity incorporation into the heart cells, the olive oil gave much higher values, indicating a distinct difference in response to the proportion of fatty acids supplied.

Effect of linamarin on thiocyanate production and thyroid activity in rats

The principal cyanogenic glucoside in cassava is linamarin (2-hydroxyisobutyronitrile-beta-D-glucoside). Addition of pure linamarin to a diet based on 10% vitamin-free casein did not affect the weight gain of rats. However, as expected, the animals that received the casein diet supplemented with methionine gained more weight than those that received the unsupplemented diet. The amount of thiocyanate ion excreted in the urine by the animals that received linamarin was higher than that excreted by the animals that did not receive linamarin at both levels of dietary methionine. The plasma thiocyanate concentration was also higher for linamarin-fed animals than for animals that did not receive linamarin. Higher plasma thiocyanate levels were associated with a lower percentage uptake of radioiodine by the thyroid.

CEA levels in patients with carcinoma of the esophagus

Serum CEA levels were determined serially by the Hansen Z gel technique on 41 patients with carcinoma of the esophagus and compared to 276 controls. Seventy percent of patients with carcinomas of the esophagus had elevated CEA levels. CEA levels greater than 10.0 ng/ml after therapy correlated with significantly shortened survival. CEA appears promising as an indicator of tumor presence in patients with carcinoma of the esophagus.

Nutritional and metabolic studies of distillable fractions from fresh and thermally oxidized corn oil and olive oil

A semisynthetic diet containing 15% by weight of dietary fat was fed to six groups of male wistar rats for 28 days. Two groups received the distillable fraction of fresh corn oil (DCO) or fresh olive oil (DOO), two groups the distallable fractions of the thermally oxidized fats (OCO,OOO), and two groups received the respective fresh fats as controls (FCO, FOO). Substantial changes in the fatty acid composition occurred in the fats upon thermal oxidation. Only the rats that received OOO showed overt symptoms of heated fat toxicity. This was reflected in the histological scores of these animals with the liver sustaining the most numerous and severe lesions. Tissue fatty acid changes of any significance were confined largely to the polar liver lipid of the rats that were fed OCO or OOO. The results of this study would suggest that the relatively greater toxicity of OOO, compared to OCO, may in part be due to the high oleic:linoleic acid ratio of the fresh olive oil and in part to a higher tocopherol content of the corn oil.

Utilization of 35S from radioactive methionine or sulfate in the detoxification of cyanide by rats

Weanling rats were fed a semipurified diet based on 10% casein and 1,500 ppm potassium cyanide. The diet was supplemented with varying levels of DL-methionine and/or potassium sulfate such that all diets were iso-sulfurous except for the basal which had no additional sulfur. The animals were fed for 2 weeks after which half of the rats in all groups except the basal were used in a radioactive study. Urine was collected and analyzed for thiocyanate. Animals which received labeled methionine were more efficient in producing labeled thiocyanate than those which received labeled sodium sulfate, although the latter did contribute to the detoxification of cyanide. Increases due to additional methionine were larger for weight gain, feed consumption, and urinary and plasma thiocyanate than with supplemental sulfate.

Correlations among serum protein-bound carbohydrates, serum glycoproteins, lymphocyte reactivity, and tumors burden in cancer patients

Levels of glycoprotein-associated carbohydrates (neutral hexoses, hexosamine, sialic acid and fucose) were determined in the serum of patients with either local, regional or metastatic cancer, patients clinically cured of cancer, and controls (smokers and nonsmokers). Total protein-bound carbohydrates were compared with levels of 17 normal serum glycoproteins, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and with lymphocyte reactivity to phytohemagglutin (PHA). Tumor burden was directly related to protein-bound carbohydrate levels in patient groups. Levels of bound carbohydrates reflect the sum of all the changes in serum glycoproteins, but primarily changes in the acute-phase proteins (alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, alpha 1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin) found in the alpha-globulin fraction of serum. Increases in protein-bound carbohydrates in tumor-bearers were not related to increases in CEA. Increased levels of the acute-phase proteins occurred in individuals with depressed in vitro lymphocyte reactivity to PHA. A significant positive correlation was found between lymphocyte reactivity and level of alpha 2HS-glycoprotein. The results suggest that serum protein-bound carbohydrates or glycoproteins may be of adjunctive value is assessing tumor burden and immune reactivity in cancer patients.

Safety evaluation of Aspergillus fumigatus grown on cassava for use as an animal feed

A safety evaluation of Aspergillus fumigatus I21, grown in a cassava carbohydrate and salts medium, was undertaken. Male weanling rats were fed the fungus at 20, 30 and 40% of the diet for 90 days. A control group was given soybean oil meal as the sole source of protein. Weekly determinations of the body weights and feed consumptions were made. A few days prior to termination of the feeding study, a kidney function test was undertaken on the rats. At the end of the feeding period hematology, blood biochemistry, urine analyses and histopathology studies of various tissues were carried out, and organs were weighed. Rats fed A. fumigatus I21 gained less weight than the controls, but kidney weights were increased. Increases in serum alkaline phosphatase and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase were not related to dose level. The blood urea nitrogen was increased for the rats fed 40% of the fungus. Rats fed 30 and 40% of the fungus I21 showed a significant drop in albumin. Deficiency in methionine or other essential amino acids through a limited feed consumption may have caused a decrease in albumin synthesis. Rats fed the highest level of the fungus showed increases in neutrophils and monocytes concomitant with decreases in lymphocytes and eosinophils which may be a response to stress. The urine analyses did not reveal any significant differences. The test rats were capable of concentrating urine adequately when deprived of water for 24 hours. No significant differences between the control and experimental groups were found by histopathological examinations.

Effect of thymosin in vitro on T cell levels during radiation therapy: correlations with radiation portal and initial T cell levels

The effect of thymosin in vitro on percent T cells was determined in 388 blood specimens from patients with head and neck, mediastinal, and pelvic malignancies during radiation therapy, in 94 untreated patients with these malignancies, and 277 normal adults. Changes in percent T cell levels after incubation of lymphocytes with thymosin did not correlate with tumor histology or cumulative radiation dose, but in all groups correlated with radiation portal and initial T cell levels. T cell levels increased by a similar increment in normals and in the untreated patients. During irradiation, the mean levels after incubation with thymosin did not change in patients with head and neck and pelvic malignancies, but in patients with mediastinal malignancies the levels increased significantly more than in normals. For a given T cell level, the increase in patients with mediastinal malignancies was greater than in patients with pelvic malignancies, and as a group was greater than in patients with head and neck malignancies. The results can be explained by an increase in circulating thymosin-responsive lymphocytes during mediastinal irradiation due to suppression of a function of the thymus important for maturation of these cells, and a decrease in these cells during pelvic irradiation due to a deleterious effect on precursors in pelvic bone marrow. The results thus provide a rationale for clinical trials to assess the efficacy of thymosin in averting declines of T cell levels in patients receiving mediastinal irradiation.

Fate of orally dosed linamarin in the rat

Wistar rats, about 100 g in weight, were dosed by stomach tube with 30 mg of pure linamarin. No intact linamarin was identified in the feces or blood but 5.65 mg was excreted in the urine along with 0.823 mg of thiocyanate ion. A 50-mg dose of linamarin was lethal to 7 of 10 rats receiving this dose.

Biochemical and histological effects of feeding thermally oxidized rapeseed oil and lard to rats

Four groups of weanling rats were fed semisynthetic diets containing 15 percent by weight of dietary fats for 28 days. Two groups received thermally oxidized low-erucic acid rapeseed oil (OLE) or lard (OLA) and the other two groups received the respective fresh fats (FLE, FLA) as controls. Average daily feed consumption and feed efficiency were not affected by either OLE or OLA, however final body weights were depressed by the OLA in the diet. The relative heart weights and heart total lipids were significantly increased in both the OLE and OLA groups. A majority of the animals in both the OLE and OLA groups exhibited various gross symptoms attributable to heated fat toxicity such as seborrhea, diarrhea and polyuria. Excessive hair loss was noted in all the animals fed the heated fats. Tissue fatty acid changes due to OLA were confined largely to the polar liver lipids, whereas OLE produced dramatic changes in both the neutral heart lipids as well as in the neutral and polar liver lipids. Histological evaluation of the hearts, livers and kidneys indicated that OLA was very injurious to the kidneys, whereas OLE caused greater damage to both the hearts and livers.

Viral-specific humoral immunity to herpes simplex-induced antigens in patients with squamous carcinoma of the head and neck

Serum antibodies to herpes simplex virus-induced antigens (HSVIA) were quantitated in 122 patients with head and neck squamous carcinoma, 93 patients tumor-free after treatment for these malignant lesions, 27 patients with nonsquamous malignant lesions, 30 heavy smokers, and 36 nonsmokers. Serum IgA anti-HSVIA antibodies were detected in a greater percentage of sera of patients with squamous carcinoma (61 per cent), patients previously treated for these malignant lesions (56 per cent), and heavy smokers (57 per cent) than in patients with nonsquamous malignant lesions (11 per cent) or nonsmokers (8 per cent). Furthermore, titers of these antibodies were higher in patients with squamous carcinoma than in smokers. In patients tumor-free more than three years after treatment, the percentage of positive sera was significantly lower than that in untreated patients and in patients three years or less after treatment. This study demonstrates for the first time a high frequency of antibodies to HSV-induced antigens confined to subjects at high risk of developing head and neck squamous carcinoma and in patients with these malignancies as well as a correlation between the levels of these antibodies and clinical course after treatment.

Effect of age and cigarette smoking on carcinoembryonic antigen levels

Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were determined by the Hansen-Z-gel technique in 276 healthy volunteers, of whom 154 were smokers and 122 nonsmokers. The mean CEA level was significantly higher in smokers (2.7 ng/ml) than in nonsmokers (1.9 ng/ml) (P less than .001), and a significantly higher percentage of smokers had elevated CEA levels (P less than .05). In both groups, CEA levels were directly related to age. Seventy-six of the 154 smokers who entered the study ceased smoking. Their CEA levels were determined at one, three, and six months after cessation of smoking. Within three months after cessation, elevated CEA levels declined to within the range of nonsmokers and did not appear to be influenced by previous smoking habits. Both age and smoking history must be considered for accurate evaluation of CEA levels. A reappraisal of the diseases associated with elevated CEA levels that considers the influence of age and smoking may invalidate some of the correlations previously reported.

CEA levels in head and neck cancer

Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were determined for 439 patients with squamous carcinoma of the head and neck region, 154 healthy smokers, and 122 nonsmokers. Among nonsmokers 95% of the CEA levels did not exceed 5 ng/ml, but among smokers this discriminatory level was 7 ng/ml. Among tumor-bearing patients 36% of the CEA levels exceeded 5 ng/ml but only 17% exceeded 7 ng/ml. Both the incidence and magnitude of CEA elevations correlated with clinical stage of tumor; however, excluding patients with clinically apparent advanced malignancies, the incidence and magnitude of elevations were similar among tumor-bearing patients, tumor-free treated patients, and smokers. Although not predictive of ultimate survival, elevated preoperative CEA levels declined to the range of normals after resection. Similarly, during palliative irradiation for incurable tumors, CEA levels declined with regression of tumor. Irradiation did not nonspecifically elevate CEA levels. The data indicate that in patients with head and neck squamous carcinomas CEA level is not likely to contribute to a determination of prognosis after therapy; however, serial determinations may have adjunctive value in monitoring tumor response.

In vitro lymphocyte reactivity and T cell levels in patients with melanoma: correlations with clinical and pathological stage

In vitro lymphocyte reactivity (LR) to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and peripheral blood thymus-dependent lymphocyte (T cell) levels were determined in 42 tumor-bearing patients with clinically operable melanoma and were compared to 41 age-matched normal controls. Patients with tumors clinically confined to the primary site (Stage I) as a group had normal immune reactivity and T cell levels, and those with regional metastases by clinical assessment (Stage II) had relatively impaired LR and T cell levels. In six of 24 patients with clinical Stage II tumors, widespread metastases (Stage III) subsequently were found. The severe immune defects in this group with occult disseminated melanoma accounted for the impaired LR and low T cell levels in the group with clinical Stage II tumors. Although overlapping levels of LR and T cells in the patients with pathological Stage II and III tumors prevent use of the data as a determinant of tumor extent in individual patients, the results show that these in vitro assays define a relation between cellular immunocompetence and tumor burden in patients with melanoma.

In vivo and in vitro measurements of the relationship of human squamous carcinomas to herpes simplex virus tumor-associated antigens

An additional 244 unfiltered sera have now been studied in a series of controlled, coded tests to determine the relationship of squamous carcinomas of the head and neck and cervix to the presence of complement-fixing antibodies to herpesvirus-tumor-associated antigens (HSV-TAA) in both tumor-bearing and cured patients. Ninety % of sera from patients with squamous carcinomas had antibodies to HSV-TAA, in contrast to 11% of sera from patients with nonsquamous cancers and 4% of sera from noraml individuals. The temporal relationship of Stage 1 laryngeal carcinomas suggests that HSV-TAA appearance precedes the immune defects. An in vitro correlate of the previously demonstrated specific delayed hypersensitivity reactions in controlled skin tests of squamous carcinoma patients with HSV-TAA is reported. In leukocyte migration inhibition tests, the migration indices after incubation with HSV-TAA of peripheral blood leukocytes from patients with squamous carcinoma (x = 0.847) were in definite contrast to migration indices seen for normal leukocytes (x = 1.037) and patients with nonsquamous solid cancers (x = 1.03). Thus, these polypeptides elicit both humoral antibody response and cell-mediated reactivity.

Correlation of tumor burden with in vitro lymphocyte reactivity and antibodies to herpesvirus tumor-associated antigens in head and neck squamous carcinoma

In 94 patients with squamous carcinoma of the head and neck region, the clinical extent of tumor was correlated with in vitro lymphocyte reactivity (LR) to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and serum complement-fixing antibodies to herpes simplex virus (HSV)-induced tumor-associated antigen (TAA). Forty-six patients were tumor-bearing and 48 were considered cured. Controls were 41 age-matched normals with histories of similar cigarette consumption. In 15 patients with Stage I carcinomas of the larynx, among whom the tumor diameter was 5 mm or less, mean LR or PHA did not differ from controls and 7 of 11 tested (63%) had antibodies to HSV-TAA. In 83 patients with more extensive tumors, LR to PHA was significantly lower than controls and 42 of 44 tested (95%) had antibodies to HSV-TAA. In both groups, LR to PHA was similar among tumor-bearing and cured patients. The study delineates a clinical tumor burden associated with impaired LR to PHA and a high incidence of antibodies to HSV-TAA in patients with squamous carcinomas of the head and neck region, and shows a correlation between the immune defects in clinically cured patients and tumor extent prior to treatment.

Mesenteric leaf repair of pelvic defects following exenterative operations

Perineal enterocutaneous fistula and hernia are unique complications of radical pelvic exenterative operations. A technique for management of these complications is presented. A vascularized segment of small bowel mesentery is interposed as a peritoneum covered pelvic "lid" to separate the abdominal contents from the pelvic defect.

In vitro lymphocyte reactivity and T-cell levels in chronic cigarette smokers

Peripheral blood total leucocyte, lymphocyte and thymus-dependent lymphocyte (T cell) levels and in vitro lymphocyte reactivity (LR) to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) were determined in 153 chronic cigarette smokers and 115 non-smokers ranging in age from 20 to 78 years. Total leucocyte, lymphocyte and T-cell levels were significantly elevated in smokers. There was no correlation with age. LR to PHA was significantly higher in smokers less than 40 years of age or in those with a 20 pack-year or less history of cigarette consumption. Older smokers or those with a history of heavier cigarette consumption did not differ from normals. The results contrast with previous demonstrations of suppression of immune reactivity after exposure to tobacco products. The possible effects of the apparent stimulation of the lymphoid system by chromic cigarette consumption is considered.

High dose methotrexate as a preoperative adjuvant in the treatment of epidermoid carcinoma of the head and neck. A feasibility study and clinical trial

Thirty patients with operable epidermoid carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with intravenous high dose methotrexate and leucovorin rescue prior to resection. Their clinical courses were compared with those of thirty randomly selected patients matched for tumors site and clinical stage who were treated by surgery alone. No medical or surgical complications associated with methotrexate were encountered. An objective decrease in tumor size (primary lesion or nodal metastases) was noted prior to resection in twenty-three patients (77 per cent). The number of recurrences in the two groups was similar. However, these was a significantly greater disease-free interval in the methotrexate-treated patients (p less than 0.05). No significant differences in survival have been noted to date between the two groups. In view of the absence of complications, the regressions in tumor size, and the increase in postoperative disease-free interval in this trial, evaluation as preoperative adjuvants of higher doses of methotrexate and of other chemotherapeutic agents in combination with methotrexate appears warranted.

Comparative studies on composition of liver phospholipids from rats fed oleic or elaidic acid

Rats were fed diets containing either ethyl oleate or ethyl elaidate with and without supplementation of ethyl linoleate. Feeding elaidate increased the ratio of the phospholipids phosphatidylethanolamine to phosphatidylcholine, and inhibited the formation of higher polyunsaturated fatty acids from linoleic as well as from oleic and palmitoleic acids. Elaidic acid was incorporated mainly in the phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylserine fractions and the level found was linoleate-independent. The 5-cis, 9-transoctadecadienoic acid was deposited only in the phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylserine fraction when linoleate was fed, but also in phosphaditylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine with a linoleate deficiency. In contrast to the trans monoene being predominantly in the α¹ opposition of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine, the cis, trans-diene was all in the <i>β</i> position of the phospholipids.

Nuclear magnetic resonance and ultraviolet studies of the effect of p2H on reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide

The effect of p2H on the chemical shifts of two adenine protons and one reduced nicotinamide proton of β-NADH have been examined. The adenine protons had a single pK at a p2H 3.85. The reduced nicotinamide proton showed no pK in the range p2H 3.00 to p2H 7.00. At low p2H values a new peak appeared in the nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum 0.31 p.p.m. downfield from the nicotinamide C-2 proton of β-NADH, and the nicotinamide C-2 proton peak gradually disappeared. It is suggested that this new peak is responsible for some of the anomalies in published results. The alterations in the ultraviolet spectra also indicate a change in the structure within the reduced nicotinamide moiety of β-NADH at low p2H values.

Thermal reactions of methyl linoleate. I. Heating conditions, isolation techniques, biological studies and chemical changes

Methyl linoleate, diluted with an equal weight of methyl laurate, was heated without exclusion of air at 200C for 200 hours. The reaction mixture was separated by means of molecular distillation, urea adduction, column chromatography, and gas chromatography. Cyclic and aromatic materials were detected in the nonurea adductable monomer fractions. The dimer was separated into polar and nonpolar fractions. Analytical data for the nonpolar dimer are consistent with a cyclic Diels-Alder product. Bioassays showed the nonadductable monomer, the polar dimer, and a fraction of intermediate boiling point to be toxic when administered to weanling male rats. Urea-adductable fractions, nonpolar dimer, and polymer were not toxic. The concentrations of the toxic components were so low that the heated linoleate, before fractionation but after removal of the laurate, was not toxic.

Effect of diet handling on nutritional studies with used frying fats

A four-week experiment to study the significance of careful diet handling was carried out with weanling rats fed purified rations containing 15% of various fats. Fresh soybean oil was the fat in the control diet and the other fats, which had been used to prepare food by a commercial-type deep-frying operation, were soybean oil, partially hydrogenated soybean oil with iodine value (I.V.) 70, partially hydrogenated soybean oil with I.V. 108, and cotton-seed oil. A purified diet was fed ad libitum.Treatment of the dietary groups in regard to preparation and handling of the rations proved to be highly significant. That is, as opposed to weekly mixing and twice weekly feeding of the diets, daily preparation and feeding along with the use of antioxidants and refrigeration of the ingredients resulted in a much superior growth rate and a higher efficiency of feed conversion. Since this very significant response became apparent in less than four weeks, the importance of careful handling to minimize secondary effects within the diet must be emphasized. The fresh soybean oil control, and all of the used frying fats gave similar results.

A nutritional comparison of rapeseed oil and soybean oil

Rapeseed oil was fed to rats at a level as high as 73% of the calories (48% by weight) of the diet, and there was no mortality in 7 weeks. This is in contrast to a report by an earlier investigator that there was complete mortality in an average of 17 days. The animals survived because the oil was gelatinized with ethyl cellulose before it was mixed into the diet, to prevent settling of the solid ingredients. When the fat levels were high, animals on the diets with rapeseed oil consumed less food and grew less than those on comparable diets with soybean oil. On the basis of caloric efficiency and ability to support growth, however, rapeseed oil was essentially equivalent to soybean oil. Thus the earlier report of the toxicity of rapeseed oil is attributable to the unpalatable form in which it was fed, and not to the oil itself. Levels of cholesterol in the blood and liver were similar whether the rats consumed diets containing rapeseed oil or soybean oil, whereas the adrenal cholesterol was increased when rapeseed oil was fed.