title: Effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids on rat brain plasma membrane fatty acid composition.
abstract: The effects of four different diets on phospholipid fatty acid composition of rat brain plasma membranes were evaluated. Rats were given a semisynthetic diet in which lipids were supplied by 5% peanut oil (n-3 PUFA deficient diet), cod liver oil (n-6 PUFA deficient diet), partially hydrogenated palm oil (total PUFA deficient diet) or a mixture of peanut and rapeseed oil (control group). Animals fed the total PUFA deficient diet had significantly lower body and brain weights than the control group (p < 0.05). Lower brain cholesterol and phospholipids also were observed in animals fed the total PUFA deficient diet, whereas the brain of animals fed the n-6 PUFA deficient diet had higher levels of these lipid components than the control group (p < 0.05). Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were mutually replaced in animals fed the n-6 and n-3 PUFA deficient diets, so that the sum of these two membrane constituents was maintained around 77% of total phospholipids. Brain phospholipid fatty acid composition was significantly modified by the diets studied. Thus, despite being a highly protected organ, the fatty acid composition of the brain can be extensively modulated by dietary lipids.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Tecnológico de Veracruz, Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Bioquímica, México.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Angulo-Guerrero
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Oliart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology; D002462:Cell Membrane; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids