Phospholipid fatty acids of brain and liver are modified by alpha-tocopherol and dietary fat in growing chicks.
Dietary fatty acids modify phospholipid fatty acids in brain and liver of growing chickens post-hatching. The effect of vitamin E deficiency on this process is unknown and may be relevant to the pathogenesis of chick nutritional encephalomalacia (NE). Therefore laying hens received a diet low in vitamin E (10 mg alpha-tocopherol/kg feed). Resulting chicks were assigned to nine dietary groups each fed with either oleic (18:1n-9, 58 g/kg), linoleic (18:2n-6, 57 g/kg) or linolenic (18:3n-3, 56 g/kg) acid together with 5. 25 or 125 mg alpha-tocopherol/kg feed. NE affecting the cerebellum only occurred in the group given linoleic acid and 5 mg alpha-tocopherol/kg. In 1-d-old chicks and after 1 and 2 weeks the phospholipid fatty acid composition of liver, cerebrum and cerebellum (additionally after 3 weeks) was determined. The feed fatty acids were incorporated into the liver very efficiently during the first week of life. Unsaturation of liver membranes decreased in the order dietary linolenic > linoleic > oleic acid. In liver, also, the effect of alpha-tocopherol supplementation on phospholipid fatty acids was most pronounced. The unsaturation index increased during deficiency, whereas n-9 fatty acids decreased. In the chicken brain the alterations were delayed and less distinct. The cerebellum phospholipids were rich in n-9 fatty acids and as a whole more saturated in comparison with the cerebrum. Cerebellar unsaturation increased when linolenic or linoleic acid was given. However, NE-producing dietary conditions were not accompanied by specific alterations in cerebellar phospholipid fatty acids due to the alpha-tocopherol content of the diet. Rather the alterations of membrane fatty acids in the liver seem to play a role in the pathogenesis of NE.
Fuhrmann
H
H
Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Hannover Veterinary School, Germany.
Sallmann
H P
HP
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004678:Encephalomalacia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D008042:Linolenic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*
D004041:Dietary Fats; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D009829:Oleic Acids; D010743:Phospholipids