Abstract
Patients with cystic fibrosis have EFAD which might contribute to their symtoms, especially their poor fat absorption, since rats with EFAD have been shown to have a decreased absorption of fat. To further study the patophysiology of this defect 3H-arachidonic (20:4) and 14C-linoleic (18:2) acids were fed intragastrically to EFAD male rats and to age-matched controls. The incorporation into different lipid classes of the small intestine, liver and serum was studied 1-4 hrs after feeding. In both the control and the EFAD rats substantial amounts of 3H-20:4 were retained in the small intestinal and hepatic phospholipids rather than being secreted as lipoprotein triglycerides over the time period studied, the 3H/14C ratio of the intestinal and hepatic lipids being significantly higher than in controls, (p<0.001). The 3H/14C ratio of total.lipids in intestine and liver was significantly lower in the EFAD than in the controls, due to a marked increase in the retention of 14C-18:2 in these organs. Also the distribution of the 3H and 14C between different lipid classes varied markedly between the groups, the proportion of both isotopes in the phospholipids being increased, due to a marked increase in the incorporation of 14C and 3H into phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in both liver and intestine (p<0.001) and to some extent of the 14C into phosphatidylcholine (PC) (p < 0.001). Thus EFAD rats selectively retain absorbed 18:2 and 20:4 in PE and PC of small intestine and liver. The mechanism has to be further studied in view of the importance for intestinal transport and fat malabsorption.
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Hjelte, L., T, M., A, N. et al. 96 ABSORPTION AND LIVER UPTAKE OF 3H-ARACHIDONIC ACID AND C-LINOLEIC ACID IN ESSENTIAL FATTY ACID DEFICIENT (EFAD) RATS. Pediatr Res 24, 421 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198809000-00119
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198809000-00119