Phospholipid analysis in testis-epididymis complex after alpha-chlorohydrin administration

Alpha-chlorohydrin, 6.5 mg/kg body weight for 14 days, did not alter total phospholipids, phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl serine, phosphatidyl inositol and sphingomyelin in rat testis and caput and corpus epididymis. However, marked decrease in total phospholipids, phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl inositol in cauda epididymis and vas deferens was observed. p32 incorporation also showed similar changes in phospholipids.     

Cytotoxicity of intratracheally administered coal fly ash: Studies on lipids in the lung of rats

The effect of intratracheal administration of coal fly ash daily for seven consecutive days was studied on the lung lipids of rats for periods of 7, 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. A significant increase in lung weight was noted on 7, 30, and 90 days after treatment. Seven days after administration, a significant increase was observed in lung total lipids, total, free and esterified cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, and total phospholipids. Phosphatidyl choline contents of the lung showed a significant increase 15 and 60 days after treatment. Fly ash significantly increased total phospholipids, phosphatidyl choline, and proteins of lung lavage. The incorporation of³²P into total phospholipids and phosphatidyl choline of lung and lung lavage was increased in the treated rats. Fly ash profoundly decreased total unsaturation of fatty acids in both phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine. Lipid peroxidation of lung lipids and the peroxidative capacity was greater in benzene-extracted fly ash residue.     

Cytotoxicity of intratracheally administered coal fly ash: Studies on liver and plasma lipids in rats

The effect of intratracheal administration of coal fly ash has been studied on liver and plasma lipids of rats. Liver total cholesterol, esterified and free cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, and phospholipid levels were altered at different periods of time after treatment. Fly ash administration significantly reduced plasma total cholesterol levels up to 30 days after treatment and these were reflected both in its free and esterified cholesterol components. Plasma total phospholipids were reduced up to 60 days after fly ash treatment, but phosphatidyl choline content showed reductions up to 30 days after treatment. Plasma lysophosphatidyl choline was reduced 60 days after treatment. Fly ash administration caused peroxidation of liver lipids.     

Studies on the physiology of the human epididymis and vas deferens. I. Biochemical constituents.

The epididymis and vas deferens from healhy men of various ages who died in road accidents were analyzed for the levels of total lipids, phospholipids, sialic acid, RNA, DNA and protein. The concentration of total lipids and total phospholipid phosphorus showed little variation in the caput and cauda epididymides of young and old age groups. Total PLP was higher in the cauda than in the caput or corpus epididymides of both age groups. The major phospholipids in all segments of epididymis and vas deferens were phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine. Concentration of sialic acid was similar in all the regions of the epididymis but was lower in the vas deferens. DNA and RNA were maximal in the cauda epididymides while protein was nearly the same in all the regions of the epididymis. The significance of these changes is discussed.     

Metabolites of the naphthenic hydrocarbon dodecylcyclohexane in rainbow trout liver and their incorporation into lipids

Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri R.) were force-fed 0.1 mCi (0.5 mg)³H-dodecylcyclohexane and sacrificed at 12, 24, 48 hr and 1 week after feeding in order to study the metabolic utilization of a naphthenic hydrocarbon. One week after dosing, approximately 25% of the ingested radioactivity was stored in the carcass and 3/4 of this radioactivity was due to unchanged hydrocarbon. In the liver, only 25% of the³H present after one week was associated with hydrocarbon. The incorporation of radioactivity in hepatic lipids 24 hr after ingestion of³H-dodecylcyclohexane revealed that radioactivity was equally incorporated into the phospholipids and neutral lipids. In neutral lipids, the free fatty acids were the most labeled fraction, whereas in phospholipids the greater deposition of radioactivity occurred in phosphatidyl choline. The major biotransformation products were characterized in the liver by thin layer chromatography, radio-gas chromatography and mass spectrometric analysis. Four metabolites, resulting from the oxidation of the alkyl chain or of the cyclohexane ring were identified; namely, 3-dodecylcyclohexanol, 4-dodecylcyclohexanol, cyclohexyldodecane-2-ol, and cyclohexyldodecanoic acid. This latter metabolite accounted for 30% of the liver radioactivity 24 hr after dosing. The toxicological relevance of this pathway is discussed.     

In vivo acylation of triglycerides and phosphoglycerides of liver subcellular fractions with palmitate-1-14C in rats fed vitamin A.

Incorporation of palmitate-1-14C into liver and its mitochondrial, and microsomal triglycerides and phosphoglycerides of rats fed 100000 I.U. of vitamin A for two days has been studied. Feeding of vitamin A significantly increased triglycerides in liver and its mitochondrial, microsomal and supernatant fractions as compared to the controls. A significant increase in total phospholipids and phosphatidyl choline was noted in liver mitochondrial and microsomal fractions of vitamin A fed rats. The incorporation of palmitate-1-14C (counts/min/liver) into triglycerides of liver mitochondrial, microsomal and supernatant fractions of vitamin A fed rats was significantly higher, whereas in phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl choline it was not significantly different from the controls.     

Variation in fatty acid distribution of different acyl lipids in rice (Oryza sativa L.) brans

The lipids extracted from rice brans were classified by thin-layer chromatography into eight fractions, and their fatty acid (FA) compositions were investigated among five different Japanese cultivars. The lipids of these rice brans comprised mainly triacylglycerols (TAG; 84.9-86.0 wt%), free FA (4.2-4.6 wt%), and phospholipids (PL; 6.5-6.7 wt%), whilst other components were also detected in minor proportions (0.2-2.1 wt%). The PL components included phosphatidyl choline (43.3-46.8 wt%) phosphatidyl ethanolamine (25.0-27.3 wt%) and phosphatidyl inositol (20.2-23.2 wt%). Comparison of the different cultivars showed, with a few exceptions, no substantial difference (P > 0.05) in FA distribution. FA distribution of TAG among the five cultivars was characterized as: unsaturated FA predominantly concentrated at the sn-2 position and saturated FA primarily occupying the sn-1 or sn-3 position in these lipids. These results suggest that the rice bran lipids may be well incorporated into our daily diet to improve nutritional value of the Japanese diet.     

Cobalt-vitamin B-12 deficiency decreases methionine synthase activity and phospholipid methylation in sheep.

Two groups of lambs were fed either a Co-deficient or a Co-sufficient whole barley-based diet for 28 wk to induce a severe Co-vitamin B-12 deficiency. Holo and apo methionine synthase activities were significantly lower in the liver, kidney and spinal cord of Co-deficient animals compared with controls. Neither form of this enzyme in the brain was affected by Co deficiency. The ratio of the tissue concentrations of S-adenosyl methionine to S-adenosyl homocysteine was significantly lower only in the liver of Co-deficient animals, suggesting that the activity of hepatic SAM-dependent methyltransferase enzymes would be impaired. Measurements of tissue concentrations of phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine revealed lower concentrations of phosphatidyl choline and a lower phosphatidyl choline:phosphatidyl ethanolamine ratio in both liver and brain of the Co-deficient animals. The latter finding occurred in the absence of changes in either methionine synthase activity or the methylation ratio and may result from impaired availability of hepatic phosphatidyl choline for transport into the brain.     

Erythrocyte membrane microviscosity and phospholipid composition in lead workers

The microviscosity and fluidity of erythrocyte ghost membranes from lead workers and control subjects was measured by fluorescence polarisation using the fluorophore, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH). Increased lead was associated with a significant decrease in the average microviscosity of resealed and unsealed erythrocyte membranes. Since DPH fluorescence reflects the organisation of lipids in the central core of the membrane, two aspects of phospholipid metabolism were investigated. Phospholipids were extracted from red blood cell ghost membranes and identified by high performance liquid chromatography. The ratio of phosphatidyl choline to phosphatidyl ethanolamine, an established correlate of membrane fluidity, was significantly increased in lead workers. This is attributed to the known increases in red blood cell cholesterol in lead workers and the structural incompatibility of phosphatidyl ethanolamine and cholesterol, which result in a compensatory increase of phosphatidyl choline. Erythrocyte ghost membranes from control subjects were resealed with the intermediates in phospholipid synthesis that increase with a lead inhibited decrease in red blood cell pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase. Membrane fluidity was not modified by incubation with cytidine triphosphate, uridine triphosphate, cytidine diphosphate choline, or cytidine diphosphate ethanolamine. Alterations in the microviscosity of the lipid regions of the hydrophobic core of the erythrocyte membrane bilayer and in the phospholipid composition of the membrane may be defects which contribute to the clinical and biochemical instability of the red blood cell on exposure to lead.     

Erythrocyte membrane microviscosity and phospholipid composition in lead workers.

The microviscosity and fluidity of erythrocyte ghost membranes from lead workers and control subjects was measured by fluorescence polarisation using the fluorophore, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH). Increased lead was associated with a significant decrease in the average microviscosity of resealed and unsealed erythrocyte membranes. Since DPH fluorescence reflects the organisation of lipids in the central core of the membrane, two aspects of phospholipid metabolism were investigated. Phospholipids were extracted from red blood cell ghost membranes and identified by high performance liquid chromatography. The ratio of phosphatidyl choline to phosphatidyl ethanolamine, an established correlate of membrane fluidity, was significantly increased in lead workers. This is attributed to the known increases in red blood cell cholesterol in lead workers and the structural incompatibility of phosphatidyl ethanolamine and cholesterol, which result in a compensatory increase of phosphatidyl choline. Erythrocyte ghost membranes from control subjects were resealed with the intermediates in phospholipid synthesis that increase with a lead inhibited decrease in red blood cell pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase. Membrane fluidity was not modified by incubation with cytidine triphosphate, uridine triphosphate, cytidine diphosphate choline, or cytidine diphosphate ethanolamine. Alterations in the microviscosity of the lipid regions of the hydrophobic core of the erythrocyte membrane bilayer and in the phospholipid composition of the membrane may be defects which contribute to the clinical and biochemical instability of the red blood cell on exposure to lead.     

Effect of undernutrition and vitamin A deficiency on the phospholipid composition of rat tissues at 21 days of age. -- II. Lung, heart and testes

Undernutrition and vitamin A deficiency during early period of life causes a significant decrease in lung, heart and testes weights. But the concentration of total phospholipid was unaffected. However the individual phospholipids showed some changes. The concentration of phosphatidyl ethanolamine was decreased in the lung from vitamin A deficient rats. On the other hand sphingomyelin and cardiolipin showed a marked increase in heart. The concentration of phosphatidyl serine and inositol fraction was significantly lower in testes from undernourished rats as compared to controls.     

Plasma and erythrocyte lipids. Relation between globular dystrophies and hepatic lesion in ethylism]

Human red cell and plasma lipids are determined in alcoholic patients with various forms of liver diseases including steatosis, cirrhosis and hepatitis. No relation between serum lipids and red cell lipids content have could be demonstrated. A relation is shown between morphology and lipids red cells content, different anatomopathologic states of liver and erythrocyte morphology. In steatosis red cells phospholipids (specially phosphatidyl choline) are increased. In cirrhosis red cells show an increased of both cholesterol and phospholipids content. Target cells show an inchanged cholesterol-phospholipids ratio when acanthocytes show and increased cholesterol phospholipids ratio by a greater increase of cholesterol than phospholipids.     

Comparative study of lipid composition of two halotolerant alga, Dunaliella bardawil and Dunaliella salina

The composition of polar, neutral and glycolipid fractions of two halotolerant algae, Dunaliella salina and Dunaliella bardawil, which are exclusively used for the production of beta-carotene was determined in modified medium. In D. salina the glycolipid fraction accounted to 28%, in comparison with 40% of D. bardawil. However, in D. salina the polar lipid was 42% compared with D. bardawil at 24%. The glycolipid fraction of D. bardawil was rich in linolenic acid (81%). In both the species we could find elongation in the fatty acids from C(16) to C(20) to C(22) and the percentage was higher than the earlier reports (>3%). The polar lipid fraction was composed of (in descending order) phosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidic acid, phosphatidic ethanolamine, phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl glycerol and the neutral lipid fraction, which was rich in monoglycerides and diglycerides and diacylglycero-trimethylhomoserine.     

Comparison of the phospholipid composition of breast milk from mothers of term and preterm infants during lactation

Phospholipids were determined in milk on postpartum day 3 (colostrum) and days 7, 21, 42, and 84 from mothers of 18 very premature (26 to 30 wk gestation age), 28 premature (31 to 36 wk), and 6 term (37 to 40 wk) infants. Lipids were analyzed by thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography. Total fat content increased during lactation whereas phospholipids and cholesterol declined. Phospholipids were separated from neutral lipids by column chromatography and distributed by preparative thin-layer chromatography into classes, sphingomyelin, phosphatidyl choline, serine, inositol, and ethanolamine for fatty acid analysis. Phospholipids exhibited a remarkable constancy in class percentages in milks from mothers giving birth prematurely or at term. Changes were observed in fatty acid composition within each of the phospholipid classes as secretion progressed from colostrum (3d) to transitional (7d) to mature milk (21, 42, 84d). These changes in phospholipid fatty acid composition occurred only during the first 3 wk of lactation. Mature milk was found to be relatively constant in phospholipid composition.     

Fatty acid distributions of triacylglycerols and phospholipids in peanut seeds (Arachis hypogaea L.) following microwave treatment

Peanut seeds (Arachis hypogaea L.) were roasted for 6, 12, 20 or 30 min at a frequency of 2450 MHz using a microwave oven. The fatty acid distributions of triacylglycerols (TAGs) and phospholipids (PLs) isolated from total lipids in these seeds was investigated. The predominant lipid component was TAGs and the lesser one PLs, while steryl esters, free fatty acids (FFAs), and sn-1,3- and sn-1,2-diacylglycerols (DAGs) were minor ones. Following microwave roasting, a significant increase (P<0.05) was observed in FFAs and in both forms of DAGs. The greatest PL losses (P<0.05) were observed in phosphatidyl ethanolamine, followed by phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl inositol. However, the principal characteristics of fatty acid distributions in the TAGs were evident after 20 min of roasting: unsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic and/or oleic, were predominantly concentrated in the sn-2-position, and saturated fatty acids, especially stearic and/or palmitic, primarily occupied the sn-1-position or sn-3-position of peanut oils during microwave roasting. These results indicate that unsaturated fatty acids located in the sn-2-position are significantly protected from oxidation during microwave roasting.     

Biochemical changes in the spermatozoa and luminal contents of different regions of the epididymis of the rhesus monkey,

Several biochemical constituents in the spermatozoa and luminal fluid collected from the different regions of the epididymis and the ductus deferens of the adult rhesus monkey were studied. Levels of bound sialic acid, protein, total phospholipid, phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, sphingomyelin and total lipid in the spermatozoa decreased progressively during their transit through the epididymis and remained unchanged in the ductus deferens and the ejaculate. Levels of bound sialic acid and total lipid in the luminal fluid increased from the caput to the cauda epididymidis whereas the levels of phospholipid decreased in these regions. The significance of these changes is discussed in relation to the process of sperm maturation in the epididymis.     

Biochemical changes in the spermatozoa and luminal contents of different regions of the epididymis of the rhesus monkey, Macaca mulatta.

Several biochemical constituents in the spermatozoa and luminal fluid collected from the different regions of the epididymis and the ductus deferens of the adult rhesus monkey were studied. Levels of bound sialic acid, protein, total phospholipid, phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, sphingomyelin and total lipid in the spermatozoa decreased progressively during their transit through the epididymis and remained unchanged in the ductus deferens and the ejaculate. Levels of bound sialic acid and total lipid in the luminal fluid increased from the caput to the cauda epididymidis whereas the levels of phospholipid decreased in these regions. The significance of these changes is discussed in relation to the process of sperm maturation in the epididymis.     

The effects of cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acids on delta4-desaturation in HepG2 cells

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 CLA on the delta4-desaturation process in HepG2 cells. Experiments were conducted in which HepG2 cells were incubated with 25 micromol/L of those fatty acids and the concentrations of (n-6) and (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids in phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine were determined. In the presence of eicosapentaenoic acid, cells treated with trans-10, cis-12 CLA had a lower ratio of docosahexaenoic acid [22:6 (n-3)], the product of delta4-desaturation, to docosapentaenoic acid [22:5 (n-3)], the substrate of delta4-desaturation in both phospholipids, than control cells or cells treated with cis-9, trans-11 CLA (p < 0.05). This suggests that trans-10, cis-12 CLA suppresses the delta4-desaturation process in HepG2 cells.     

Meats and fish consumed in the American diet contain substantial amounts of ether-linked phospholipids.

The primary goal of this study was to determine the amounts of ether-containing phospholipids, along with their concentration of certain polyunsaturated acyl groups, from selected, commonly consumed foods of animal origin (salmon, catfish, pork, beef, turkey and chicken). Levels of ether-linked glycerolipids in the samples were of particular interest, because ingestion of ether lipids could contribute to the production of platelet-activating factor (PAF; 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine), one of the most potent biological mediators known. Alkylacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine was found in all of the meats, with pork loin having the highest levels (0.9 mumol/g tissue) and chicken breasts the lowest (0.1 mumol/g tissue). Although choline plasmalogens were not as evident as the ubiquitous ethanolamine plasmalogens, substantial amounts (1.0 mumol/g tissue) of alk-1-enylacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine were found in tissues from beef and turkey. Triacylglycerols contained greater proportions of saturated fatty acids than phospholipids, and the ether-linked phospholipids were generally more unsaturated than diacyl species of the same phospholipid. Our data indicate that in addition to the phospholipid fraction of commonly eaten animal tissues supplying substantial amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids, they are also a rich source of ether-linked lipids. Dietary ether-linked phospholipids could influence the lipid composition of host tissues to the extent that biological responses produced by ether lipid mediators would be affected.     

High dietary linoleic acid affects the fatty acid compositions of individual phospholipids from tissues of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): association with stress susceptibility and cardiac lesion

For 16 wk Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) post-smolts were fed practical-type diets that contained either fish oil (FO) or sunflower oil (SO) as the lipid component. Both diets contained adequate (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). All the phospholipids of heart and liver from SO-fed fish had increased levels of 18:2(n-6), 20:2(n-6) and 20:3(n-6); phosphatidyl choline (PC) and phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) also had increased 20:4(n-6). There was a general decrease in 20:5(n-3) in the phospholipids, reflected in an increase in the 20:4(n-6)/20:5(n-3) ratio, especially in PC and PE. The fatty acid compositions of phospholipids from brain and retina were much less affected by dietary linoleate than those of heart and liver. Fish fed SO developed severe heart lesions that caused thinning of the ventricular wall and muscle necrosis. The fish fed SO also were susceptible to a transportation-induced shock syndrome that caused 30% mortality. These results establish that a diet with a low (n-3)/(n-6) ratio can cause changes in fatty acid metabolism that are deleterious to the health of salmonid fish, especially when subjected to stress.