title: Effect of radical stress and ageing on the occurrence of trans fatty acids in rats fed a trans-free diet.
abstract: In a previous paper, we demonstrated that tissue trans fatty acids can not only derive from the diet but also be endogenously formed. The central focus of this study was to prove that the in vivo isomerization occurs via a radical process. Two different models of radical insult were used: CCl(4) and AAPH injection to rats fed a diet completely free of trans isomers. Following this acute radical stress, a significant increase in unnatural trans fatty acid content of erythrocyte, kidney, and heart, but not liver, was observed. These results can be mainly explained by the high content, particularly in the liver, of antioxidant vitamins A and E that exhibit also an "anti-isomerizing" effect. Since during ageing cellular components are exposed to increasing radical insults, the observation of a significant trans fatty acid accumulation in 30-month-old rats could confirm that the in vivo formation of unnatural isomers is due to a radical process. Trans fatty acids can influence the physical characteristics of bilayer microdomains, affecting membrane properties and functions; thus, knowledge of biological radical species responsible for cis/trans isomerization and their possible sources can provide protective systems for preserving lipid geometry.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biochimica, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zambonin
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prata
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cabrini
authors.forename: Tullia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maraldi
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fiorentini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vieceli Dalla Sega
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hakim
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Landi
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D005609:Free Radicals; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D010743:Phospholipids; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E