Composition and concentration of lipoproteins in the serum of normal rats and rats deficient in essential fatty acids

Serum lipoprotein changes after orchidectomy and treatment with oestrogens and luliberin analogues in male Sprague-Dawley rats

The effect of androgen deprivation on lipoprotein profile and cardiovascular risk in men with advanced prostatic carcinoma is a matter of controversy. We describe an experimental model to evaluate the effects of orchidectomy and oestrogen and luliberin analogue administration on lipoprotein profiles in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Eighty rats were divided into three treatment groups and a control group. Results were compared with the scanty human data found in the literature. The oestrogen group was that which showed more differences compared with the control group, but its lipoprotein profile differed from that obtained in humans. Orchidectomy and luliberin analogue groups showed fewer differences than the oestrogen group, but a non-favourable lipoprotein profile in terms of cardiovascular risk was observed. There were important differences between humans and rats with regard to lipoprotein profile, suggesting that rats are probably not a good model for the study of atherogenic risk.

Dietary protein deficiency affects n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids hepatic storage and very low density lipoprotein transport in rats on different diets

Fatty livers and the similarity between the skin lesions in kwashiorkor and those described in experimental essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency have led to the hypothesis that protein and EFA deficiencies may both occur in chronic malnutrition. The relationship between serum very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and hepatic lipid composition was studied after 28 d of protein depletion to determine the interactions between dietary protein levels and EFA availability. Rats were fed purified diets containing 20 or 2% casein and 5% fat as either soybean oil rich in EFA, or salmon oil rich in eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids, or hydrogenated coconut oil poor in EFA. Animals were divided into six groups, SOC (20% casein + 5% soybean oil), SOd (2% casein + 5% soybean oil), COC (20% casein + 5% hydrogenated coconut oil), COd (2% casein + 5% hydrogenated coconut oil), SAC (20% casein + 5% salmon oil) and SAd (2% casein + 5% salmon oil). After 28 d, liver steatosis and reduced VLDL-phospholipid contents (P < 0.001) were observed in protein-deficient rats. In protein deficiency, triacylglycerol and phospholipid fatty acid compositions in both liver and VLDL showed a decreased polyunsaturated-to-saturated fatty acid ratio. This ratio was higher with the salmon oil diets and lower with the hydrogenated coconut oil diets. Furthermore, independent of the oil in the diet, protein deficiency decreased linoleic and arachidonic acids in VLDL phospholipids. Conversely, despite decreased proportions of EPA at low protein levels, DHA levels remained higher in rats fed salmon oil diets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Schwann cell endocytosis: a role in nerve regeneration?

Schwann cell plasma membrane vesicles have been shown to increase in numerical density after nerve injury but their function is unclear. In this study, ultrastructural tracers were micro-injected in vivo into crushed rat sciatic nerves after various time intervals to ascertain whether plasma membrane vesicles of Schwann cells are involved in the uptake and utilization of molecules from the endoneurium during axonal regeneration and remyelination. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP), a tracer of fluid-phase endocytosis, was taken up by macrophages and fibroblasts but remained external to Schwann cells throughout the study. After 14-16 days of crush injury, HRP was present within vessel lumina and in cytoplasmic vesicles of pericytes and vascular endothelia. Low-density lipoprotein-gold, which is primarily internalized by receptor-mediated endocytosis, and bovine serum albumin-gold, proposed as a tracer for fluid-phase endocytosis, were internalized by macrophages and fibroblasts but were not taken up by Schwann cells. Although Schwann cells formed pits in the plasma membrane and vesicles were evident in the cytoplasm, none of the tracers used were internalized by Schwann cells. It is suggested that Schwann cell plasmalemmal and cytoplasmic vesicles have a cellular role unrelated to endocytosis or alternatively the Schwann cell basal lamina may function as a diffusion barrier to the tracers employed.

Effects of polyphenolic natural products on the lipid profiles of rats fed high fat diets

Male Wistar rats were fed a high fat diet (HFD) containing 2.5% cholesterol and 16% lard supplemented with polyphenolic natural products namely quercetin, morin or tannic acid (100 mg/rat/day) for 4, 7 and 10 wk. Rats fed HFD without the supplements served as control. The effects of these compounds on blood lipid profiles, enzymes, liver fat and aorta of the rat were studied. In rats fed HFD containing tannic acid, plasma total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) and triglyceride (TG) were reduced by 33.3%, 29.6% and 65.1%, respectively, at week 10. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) concentration was not altered. Fat deposition was also decreased in the liver of these rats. Morin significantly reduced plasma TG (65.1%) and liver fat only at week 7 while at week 10 it reduced plasma TC and LDLC by 30.9% and 29.3% respectively. The plasma HDLC concentration was increased by 47.3% at week 4 but no effect was seen at weeks 7 and 10. In the rats fed HFD containing quercetin, plasma HDLC was increased by 28.6% at week 7 but at week 10, plasma LDLC was increased by 21.2%. Quercetin did not cause any significant changes on the plasma TC, TG and liver fat at weeks 4, 7 and 10. Plasma alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin in control and treated groups were not significantly different. However, hepatic lipase activity in rats fed tannic acid was significantly lower. Aortae of all groups of rats showed no abnormalities. The present report indicates that tannic acid and morin are effective in reducing plasma and liver lipids when supplemented with a high fat diet in rats.

Increased liver lipase activity in rats with essential fatty acid deficiency

Liver lipase activity was measured in EFA-deficient rats (long-term) and in control rats and rats fed an EFA-deficient diet for two weeks (short-term). Liver lipase activity was significantly enhanced by EFA deficiency, both in long-term and short-term experiments. The enhanced liver lipase activity could be normalized by feeding these rats normal laboratory chow for 14 days. Since during EFA deficiency prostaglandin synthesis is impaired, the possible involvement of prostaglandins in the observed changes in liver lipase activity during EFA deficiency was studied. Administration of the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor indomethacin (5 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) to normally fed rats for two days led to an increase of liver lipase activity. Prostaglandin E2 was found to inhibit the secretion of liver lipase activity by freshly isolated parenchymal liver cells in vitro. These results indicate that the increase in liver lipase activity during EFA deficiency may be due to an impairment of the prostaglandin synthesis.

Visualization of the binding, endocytosis, and transcytosis of low-density lipoprotein in the arterial endothelium in situ

We investigated the interaction and transport of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) through the arterial endothelium in rat aorta and coronary artery, by perfusing in situ native, untagged human, and rat LDL. The latter was rendered electron-opaque after it interacted with the endothelial cell and was subsequently fixed within tissue. We achieved LDL electron-opacity by an improved fixation procedure using 3,3'-diaminobenzidine, and mordanting with tannic acid. The unequivocal identification of LDL was implemented by reacting immunocytochemically the perfused LDL with anti LDL-horseradish peroxidase conjugate. Results indicate that LDL is taken up and internalized through two parallel compartmented routes. (a) A relatively small amount of LDL is taken up by endocytosis via: (i) a receptor-mediated process (adsorptive endocytosis) that involved coated pits/vesicles, and endosomes, and, probably, (ii) a receptor-independent process (fluid endocytosis) carried out by a fraction of plasmalemmal vesicles. Both mechanisms bringing LDL to lysosomes supply cholesterol to the endothelial cell itself. (b) Most circulating LDL is transported across the endothelial cell by transcytosis via plasmalemmal vesicles which deliver LDL to the other cells of the vessel wall. Endocytosis is not enhanced by increasing LDL concentration, but the receptor-mediated internalization decreases at low temperature. Transcytosis is less modified by low temperature but is remarkably augmented at high concentration of LDL. While the endocytosis of homologous (rat) LDL is markedly more pronounced than that of heterologous (human) LDL, both types of LDL are similarly transported by transcytosis. These results indicate that the arterial endothelium possesses a dual mechanism for handling circulating LDL: by a high affinity process, endocytosis secures the endothelial cells' need for cholesterol; by a low-affinity nonsaturable uptake process, transcytosis supplies cholesterol to the other cells of the vascular wall, and can monitor an excessive accumulation of plasma LDL. Since in most of our experiments we used LDL concentrations above those found in normal rats, we presume that at low LDL concentrations saturable high-affinity uptake would be enhanced in relation to nonsaturable pathways.

The effects of cholestyramine, colestipol, and ADR-132 on the rat prostate and dunning R-3327 adenocarcinoma

The effects of three compounds known to have hypocholesterolemic activity in several species were investigated on the rat prostate and the hormone-dependent R-3327 rat prostatic adenocarcinoma. Cholestyramine, colestipol, and ADR-132 are bile acid-sequestering anion exchange resins which were fed to separate groups of adult male Copenhagen X Fischer (F1) hybrid rats in doses of 0.25%, 1.00%, and 2.00% of diet. The results indicate that serum cholesterol levels in tumor-bearing rats and controls fed these compounds for 29 days were not reduced. The body and organ weights as well as the histological features of the prostate gland, seminal vesicles, and the R-3327 tumor were unaffected by these agents.

Changes in essential fatty acids in plasma lipid fractions of traumatized patients

Changes in the fatty acid pattern of plasma lipid in four different groups of polytraumatized patients were investigated. All of the patients received amino acid solutions containing 0.24 gN/day/kg body weight and 30 kal/day/kg body weight (BW). In group 1, all calories were administered as carbohydrates (glucose and fructose). In group 2, 30 to 40% of the calories were provided as a fat emulsion. When compared to the control group, a reduction in the essential fatty acid concentration in the phospholipid fraction was detected in both groups during the early post-traumatic period. In group 1, a continuous decline was observed during the remainder of the trial period. In group 2, however, the concentration of essential fatty acids remained constant after the initial decline and increased slightly from the 7th day on. In the second part of the investigation, the effect of human growth hormone (HGH) administration on the fatty acid pattern was evaluated. Group 3 and 4 received intravenous feedings identical to the patients in group 2; in group 4, however, 10 mg of HGH per day were added to the infusion. The results of this study confirm the hypothesis that supplemental infusion of a fat emulsion prevents a continuous reduction of essential fatty acids in plasma lipids. An effect of 10 mg/day of HGH on essential fatty acid concentration or composition, however, could not be observed. There were no detectable differences in the percentage of essential fatty acids between those patients receiving and those not receiving HGH.

Essential fatty acid deficiency induced by total parenteral nutrition and by medium-chain triglyceride feeding

In hospitalized infants receiving either prolonged total parenteral nutrition without fat or a formula of medium-chain triglyceride, the fatty acid composition of platelet, red blood cell, and plasma lipids was determined. The results showed that the changes in the fatty acid composition occurred not only in plasma but also in platelets and red blood cells, and the decrease in linoleic and arachidonic acid and the concurrent increase in 5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid were confirmed to be dramatic evidence of essential fatty acid deficiency. There was no effect of essential fatty acid deficiency upon the phospholipid distribution in red blood cells or plasma.

Effects of sex on formation and properties of plasma very low density lipoprotein in vivo

The concentration and composition of the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) lipids and the behavior of the VLDL in a density gradient in the zonal ultracentrifuge were examined in plasma obtained from normal fed male and female rats before and after intravenous injection of Triton WR-1339. Concentration of lipids in plasma VLDL of female rats was about half that of male animals. Following injection with Triton WR-1339, the concentration of VLDL lipids was higher in female rats (triacylglycerol) or similar (phospholipid, cholesterol, and cholesteryl esters) in both sexes. Female rats secreted much more VLDL traicylglycerol into the plasma compartment than did the male animals under the same experimental conditions. No differences were observed in lipid composition of the VLDL or in the position of the VLDL in the zonal rotor after ultracentrifugation in a density gradient of the lipoprotein from plasma of normal male and female rats before treatment with the detergent. However, after treatment with Triton, a higher proportion of the VLDL particles isolated from plasma of female rats displayed a more rapid rate-zonal flotation in the ultracentrifuge than did the VLDL produced by the male. The VLDL secreted by female rats contained fewer moles of phospholipid and free sterol per mol triacylglycerol than did the VLDL secreted by male animals under identical experimental conditions. The molar ratio of free cholesterol:cholesteryl ester in the VLDL secreted after treatment with Trition increased in both male and female rats. Simultaneously, the content of arachidonic acid in phospholipid of VLDL increased with a concomitant decrease in cholesteryl ester. These changes in fatty acid composition suggest that the inhibitory effect of Triton on lecithin-cholesterol acyl transferase activity affects the exchange of lipids between VLDL and high density lipoprotein. It can be concluded from the data reported here that sex influences the concentration of plasma lipids in vivo and the output and properties of the VLDL.