title: Age-related mitochondrial DNA deletion in rat liver depends on dietary fat unsaturation.
abstract: We fed male Wistar rats lifelong on virgin olive (rich in the monounsaturated oleic acid) or sunflower (rich in the polyunsaturated linoleic acid) oil-based diets. At 6 and 24 months, liver mitochondria were analyzed for a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion, reactive oxygen species, antioxidants, and ultrastructural alterations. An aging-related increase in the relative amount of the deletion was observed for both dietary groups, being higher in animals fed sunflower oil. Oxidative stress was lower in virgin olive oil-fed animals. Aging led to higher superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities and increased alpha-tocopherol and coenzyme Q. Mitochondria from aged animals fed sunflower oil exhibited a lower number of cristae and a higher circularity. Results suggest that the age-related increase of the relative amount of deleted mtDNA depends on fat unsaturation. Moreover, the studied mtDNA deletion was correlated with mitochondrial oxidative stress and ultrastructural alterations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Granada, Spain. jlquiles@ugr.es
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Quiles
authors.forename: Julio J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ochoa
authors.forename: M Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ramirez-Tortosa
authors.forename: Jesús R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Huertas
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mataix
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D000069463:Olive Oil; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010938:Plant Oils; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000074242:Sunflower Oil; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000032:analysis; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D000074242:Sunflower Oil; D014451:Ubiquinone; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol