Diet-induced changes in the fatty acid composition of mouse hepatocyte plasma membranes

Effect of dietary fat on the lipid composition and utilization of short-chain fatty acids by rat colonocytes

The objective of the present studies was to examine the effect of dietary fat on the lipid composition of rat colonocytes and their utilization of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). Rats were fed 14% beef fat, fish oil or safflower oil plus 2% corn oil in a semi-synthetic base diet for 4 wk. Colonocytes were isolated and their lipid composition was examined. Feeding beef fat and fish oil resulted in an increase in monounsaturated fatty acids and a reduction in omega-6 fatty acids. Feeding fish oil resulted in an enrichment with omega-3 fatty acids. There was no dietary influence on the amount of either cholesterol or phospholipids of colonocytes. Fish oil feeding resulted in significant increase in colonocyte free fatty acids (FFA) as compared to other diets. Dietary fat was found to have no effect on SCFA utilization by colonocytes. Colonocytes were found to utilize SCFA in the order of butyrate greater than or equal to acetate greater than or equal to propionate. The presence of acetate and propionate in the medium had no effect on the rate of butyrate utilization.

Role of cellular calcium metabolism in abnormal glucose metabolism and diabetic hypertension

The prevalence of hypertension in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is considerably higher than in the non-diabetic population. Insulin resistance may contribute to this increased prevalence. Abnormal cellular calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis may link insulin resistance and high blood pressure in patients with NIDDM. Observations of abnormal cellular Ca2+ homeostasis in animal models of NIDDM and obesity as well as in diabetic patients are consistent with this hypothesis. Abnormalities in cellular Ca2+ homeostasis are also found in hypertensive animals and humans. Alterations in cell membrane phospholipid content and distribution may be the primary cause of abnormal plasma membrane Ca2+ fluxes in patients with NIDDM and hypertension.

Effect of diet on insulin binding and glucose transport in rat sarcolemmal vesicles

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a high-fat, high-sucrose diet (HFS) and a low-fat, high-complex carbohydrate diet (LFC) on glucose tolerance, insulin binding, and glucose transport in rat skeletal muscle. During the intravenous glucose tolerance test, peak glucose values at 5 min were significantly higher in the HFS group; 0-, 20-, and 60-min values were similar. Insulin values were significantly higher in the HFS group at all time points (except 60 min), indicating whole-body insulin resistance. Skeletal muscle was responsible, in part, for this insulin resistance, because specific D-glucose transport in isolated sarcolemmal (SL) vesicles under basal conditions was similar between LFC and HFS rats (35 +/- 5 vs. 32 +/- 4 pmol/mg protein), despite the higher plasma insulin levels. Scatchard analyses of insulin binding curves to sarcolemmal vesicles revealed that the Ka of the high-affinity binding sites was significantly reduced by the HFS diet (0.63 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.35 +/- 0.05 X 10(9) M-1); no other binding changes were noted. Specific D-glucose transport in SL vesicles after maximum insulin stimulation (1 U/kg) was significantly depressed in the HFS group (87 +/- 7 vs. 58 +/- 7 pmol/mg protein), indicating that HFS feeding also caused a postbinding defect. These results indicate that the insulin resistance in skeletal muscle associated with a HFS diet is due to both a decrease in the Ka of the high-affinity insulin receptors and a postbinding defect.

Copper deficiency-induced changes in the fatty acid composition of mitochondrial and microsomal membranes of rat liver

The effects of copper deficiency on the fatty acid composition of mitochondrial and microsomal phospholipids in rat liver were studied. Copper deficiency was induced by a milk powder diet. To evaluate the effect of the milk diet on the fatty acid pattern of mitochondrial and microsomal phospholipids, one group of rats was fed Cusupplemented powdered milk. A decrease in the relative proportion of linoleic acid and an increase in the level of oleic and docosahexaenoic acids in membrane phospholipids were found in this group. However, no changes in the fatty acid pattern characteristic of essential fatty acid deficiency were observed. Dietary copper deficiency produced a significant decrease in the relative amounts of linoleic and arachidonic acids, as well as an increase in the docosahexaenoic acid content in both mitochondrial and microsomal membranes compared to the nondeficient controls. The disproportionate quantities of polyunsaturated fatty acids are discussed with a view to the disturbances of membrane function in copper deficiency.

Fatty acid composition of liver and adipose tissue lipids in Wistar rats with fat diet-induced obesity

The influence of dietary fat on the fatty acid composition of liver and adipose tissue lipids was investigated after 4 and 19 weeks of high-fat feeding (50% fat) in comparison to low-fat feeding (3% fat), beginning in the sixth week of age. In rats fed the low-fat diet or an usual pellet diet the fatty pattern of liver triglycerides (TG) was equal to that of adipose tissue, while there were no similarities to the diet. In total liver lipids a constant fatty acid profile was observed, independently of the duration of feeding. High fat feeding results several changes in the fatty acid pattern of liver lipids. While after 4 weeks the fatty acids of liver TG more closely resembled the dietary fatty acids than those of adipose tissue, after 19 weeks of feeding the fatty acid composition of liver TG is comparable with that of adipose tissue. Not all rats fed the high fat diet rendered obese. It could be shown that in rats with higher lipid concentrations in the liver only the fatty acid pattern of liver phospholipids has been altered, while the composition of TG, which are the lipids primarily increased, was not changed.