title: Swimming changes vascular fatty acid composition and prostanoid generation of rats.
abstract: To define the effects of physical activity on vascular fatty acid composition and prostanoid generation, spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats were made to swim at 34-35 degrees C for 5-7 wk. Fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography and prostanoids by high-performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection. A characteristic feature of swimming rats was a markedly reduced linoleic acid content in the iliac artery and the aorta; in normotensive swimming rats stearic acid and arachidonic acid contents were increased. These changes could not be attributed to a heat loss during swimming or to depressed growth characteristics. A chemical sympathectomy using guanethidine (60 mg/kg body wt daily) did not prevent the alterations in fatty acid composition. A higher arachidonic acid content was correlated with an increased generation of 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha in the aorta of untreated rats and sympathectomized rats. It is concluded that swimming can alter the vascular fatty acid composition in a manner which results in an increased potential for prostacyclin production.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology II, University of Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohkubo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rupp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005508:Food Deprivation; D006145:Guanethidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009929:Organ Size; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D005227:Fatty Acids; D011453:Prostaglandins; D006145:Guanethidine