Recoveries of rat lymph FA after administration of specific structured <Superscript>13</Superscript>C-TAG

The potential of the specific structured TAG MLM [where M-caprylic acid (8∶0) and L=linoleic acid (18∶2n−6)] is the simultaneous delivery of energy and EFA. Compared with long-chain TAG (LLL), they may be more rapidly hydrolyzed and absorbed. This study examined the lymphatic recoveries of intragastrically administered L^*L^*, M^*M^*M^*, ML^*M, and ML^*L^* (where ^*=¹³C-labeled FA) in rats. Lymph lipids were separated into lipid classes and analyzed by GC combustion isotope ratio MS. The recoveries of lymph TAG 18∶2n-6 8 h after administration of L^*L^*L^*, ML^*M, and ML^*L^* were 38.6, 48.4, and 49.1%, respectively, whereas after 24 h the recoveries were approximately 50% in all experimental groups. The exogenous contribution to lymph TAG 18∶2n-6 was approximately 80 and 60% at maximum absorption of the specific structured TAG and L^*L^*L^*, respectively, 3–6 h after administration. The tendency toward more rapid recovery of exogenous long-chain FA following administration of specific structured TAG compared with long-chain TAG was probably due to fast hydrolysis. The lymphatic recovery of 8∶0 was 2.2% 24 h after administration of M^*M^*M^*. This minor lymphatic recovery of exogenous 8∶0 was probably due to low stimulation of chylomicron formation. These results demonstrate tendencies toward faster lymphatic recovery of long-chain FA after administration of specific structured TAG compared with long-chain TAG.     

Essential fatty acid-deficient rats: III. Distribution of lipid classes in rat testes after feeding partially hydrogenated oils

Total and relative amounts of neutral lipids (NL) and phospholipids (PL) as well as the distribution of various lipid classes in these were determined in testes of rats fed different types of partially hydrogenated oils for 5,15 and 26 weeks. The dietary fats were partially hydrogenated arachis oil (HAO), partially hydrogenated soybean oil (HSO), partially hydrogenated herring oil (HHO) and, for comparison, arachis oil (AO). An additional series of animals was reared on a fat-free diet throughout the entire experiment. The total amount of NL is decreased by EFA deficiency parallel with the development of the degenerative changes of the spermatogenic tissue. The relative amounts of NL in the testis are not influenced by EFA deficiency during the first stages of degeneration. However, feeding of HHO for 26 weeks resulted in a marked decrease in NL. The total content of PL is directly related to tissue degeneration. This observation is supported by the data obtained after 5 weeks of feeding HHO and by the correspondence between the results found after 15 and 26 weeks on HAO and the fat-free diets, respectively. The relative amount of PL is less influenced by EFA deficiency, but severe degenerations as found for the group fed HHO are followed by decreases. The neutral lipids had three main fractions: triglycerides (TG), free fatty acids (FFA) and cholesterol (Chol). FFA was found to be the main fraction of NL after 5 weeks, whereas TG was the main component of NL after 15 and 26 weeks, especially in the animals with degenerated testes. The presence of the large quantities of FFA is discussed. Cholesterol was decreased markedly in the EFA deficient rats fed partially hydrogenated oils, but not in the fat-free reared groups. The variations in the PL distribution during the experiment were small with regard to the two main PL classes, the phosphatidylcholines and the phosphatidylethanolamines. The most remarkable change among the PL classes was an increase in the percentage of sphingomyelins when the spermatogenic degenerations developed.     

Effects of different medium-chain fatty acids on intestinal absorption of structured triacylglycerols

To study the effect of the chain length of medium-chain fatty acids on the intestinal absorption of long-chain fatty acids, we examined the lymphatic transport of fat following administration of five purified structured triacylglycerols (STAG) containing different medium-chain fatty acids in the sn-1, 3 positions and long-chain fatty acids in the sn-2 position in a rat model. Significant amounts of medium-chain fatty acids were found in lymph samples after intragastric administration of 1,3-dioctanoyl-2-linoleyl-sn-glycerol (8∶0/18∶2/8∶0), 1,3-didecanoyl-2-linoleyl-sn-glycerol, and 1,3-didodecanoyl-2-linoleyl-sn-glycerol. The accumulated lymphatic transport of medium-chain fatty acids increased with increasing carbon chain length. The recoveries of caprylic acid (8∶0), capric acid (10∶0), and lauric acid (12∶0) were 7.3±0.9, 26.3±2.4, and 81.7±6.9%, respectively. No significant differences were observed for the maximal intestinal absorption of linoleic acid (18∶2n−6) when the chain length of medium-chain fatty acids at the primary positions was varied, and the absorption of 18∶2 and oleic acid (18∶1) from 8∶0/18∶2/8∶0 and 1,3-dioctanoyl-2-oleyl-sn-glycerol was similar. We conclude that the chain length of the medium-chain fatty acids in the primary positions of STAG does not affect the maximal intestinal absorption of long-chain fatty acids in the sn-2 position in the applied rat model, whereas the distribution of fatty acids between the lymphatics and the portal vein reflects the chain length of the fatty acids. Presented in part at the 3rd ISSFAL Conference, Lyon, France, June 1–5, 1998.     

Effect of continuous enteral medium-chain fatty acid infusion on lipid metabolism in rats

This study compared (i) the relative effects of long-chain triglycerides (LCT) and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), (ii) the influence of amount of MCT, and (iii) the impact of medium-chain fatty acid position, on plasma and lymphatic triglycerides and portal vein free fatty acids. The animals were fed approximately at 250 kcal/kg · day for 20h. The lymph from lymphatic duct and blood from portal vein and systemic circulation were collected. The results showed that feeding 100% MCT for 20h was sufficiently long to reduce significantly the level of linoleic acid in portal vein fatty acids and plasma and lymph triglycerides. However, this alteration induced by MCT feeding was partially prevented by adding LCT to the diet. The level of arachidonic acid was significantly reduced in plasma triglycerides by any of the diets containing medium-chain fatty acids compared to 100% LCT. When feeding MCT only, palmitoleic acid, presumably reflecting de novo lipogenesis, was increased in lymphatic triglycerides and portal vein fatty acids. Total saturated fatty acids as a total percentage of total fatty acids were also significantly increased in plasma and lymphatic triglycerides and portal vein fatty acids. Thus, when linoleic acid is limiting, the conversion of MCT into long-chain fatty acids by de novo lipogenesis is likely to be an important metabolic route. Providing LCT with MCT or 2-monodecanoin appears to limit this pathway.     

Positional distribution of FA in TAG of enzymatically modified borage and evening primrose oils

Stereospecific analysis was carried out to establish positional distribution of FA in the TAG of DHA, EPA, and (EPA+DHA)-enriched oils. In this study, TAG of enzymatically modified oils were purified using a silicic acid column. The TAG were then subjected to positional distribution analysis using a modified procedure involving reductive cleavage with Grignard reagent. The results showed that in DHA-enriched borage oil (BO), DHA was randomly distributed over the three positions of TAG, whereas γ-linolenic acid (GLA) was mainly esterified at the sn-2 and-3 positions. In DHA-enriched evening primrose oil (EPO), however, DHA and GLA were concentrated in the sn-2 position. In EPA-enriched BO, EPA was randomly distributed over the three positions of TAG, similar to that observed for DHA. In EPA-enriched EPO, however, this FA was mainly located at the primary positions (sn-1 and sn-3) of TAG. In both oils, GLA was preferentially esterified at the sn-2 position. In (EPA+DHA)-enriched BO, EPA and DHA were mainly esterified at the sn-1 and -3 positions of TAG, whereas GLA was mainly located at the sn-2 position. In (EPA+DHA)-enriched EPO, GLA was mainly located at the sn-2 and-3 positions; EPA was preferentially esterified at the sn-1 and-3 positions, and DHA was found mainly at the sn-3 position.     

Influence of medium-chain triglycerides on lipid metabolism in the chick

The effect of corn oil, coconut oil, and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT, a glyceride mixture consisting almost exclusively of fatty acids of 8 and 10 carbons in length) ingestion on lipid metabolism was studied in chicks. In chicks fed cholesterol-free diets, MCT ingestion elevated plasma total lipids and cholesterol and depressed liver total lipids and cholesterol when compared to chicks receiving the corn oil diet. As a consequence of the opposite effects of MCT ingestion on plasma and liver cholesterol and total lipids, the plasma-liver cholesterol pool was not altered. When cholesterol was included in the diets, dietary MCT depressed liver and plasma total lipids and cholesterol as compared with corn oil, consequently also lowered the plasmaliver cholesterol pool. The in vitro cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis from acetate-1-¹⁴C was higher in liver slices from chicks fed MCT than in those from chicks fed corn oil. The percentage of radioactivity from acetate-1-¹⁴C incorporated into the carboxyl carbon of fatty acids by liver slices was not altered by MCT feeding, indicating that the increased acetate incorporation represented de novo fatty acid synthesis. The conversion of palmitate-1-¹⁴C to C₁₈ acids was increased in liver of chicks fed MCT, implying that fatty acid chain elongating activity was also increased. Studies on the conversion of stearate-2-¹⁴C to mono- and di-unsaturated C₁₈ acids showed that hepatic fatty acid desaturation activity was enhanced by MCT feeding. Data are presented on the plasma and liver fatty acid composition of chicks fed MCT-, corn oil-, or coconut oil-supplemented diets. The principles of laboratory animal care, as promulgated by the National Society for Medical Research, were observed.     

Influence of medium-chain triglycerides on lipid metabolism in the rat

Lipid metabolism was studied in rats fed diets containing corn oil, coconut oil, or medium-chain triglyceride (MCT), a glyceride mixture containing fatty acids of 8 and 10 carbons in length. The ingestion of MCT-supplemented, cholesterolfree diets depressed plasma and liver total lipids and cholesterol as compared with corn oil-supplemented diets. In rats fed cholesterol-containing diets, plasma cholesterol levels were not influenced by dietary MCT, but liver cholesterol levels were significantly lower than in animals fed corn oil. In vitro cholesterol synthesis from acetate-1-¹⁴C was lower in liver slices of rats that consumed MCT than in similar preparations from corn oil-fed rats. Studies of fatty acid carboxyl labeling from acetate-1-¹⁴C and the conversion of palmitate-1-¹⁴C to C₁₈ acids by liver slices showed that chain-lengthening activity is greater in the liver tissue of rats fed MCT than in the liver of animals fed corn oil. The hepatic fatty acid desaturation mechanisms, evaluated by measuring the conversion of stearate-2-¹⁴C to oleate, was also enhanced by feeding MCT. Adipose tissue of rats fed MCT converts acetate-1-¹⁴C to fatty acids at a much faster rate than does tissue from animals fed corn oil. Evidence is presented to show that the enhanced incorporation of acetate into fatty acids by the adipose tissue of rats fed MCT represents de novo synthesis of fatty acids and not chain-lengthening activity. Data are also presented on the fatty acid composition of plasma, liver, and adipose tissue lipids of rats fed the different fats under study.     

Lymphatic absorption of structured glycerolipids containing medium-chain fatty acids and linoleic acid,and their effect on cholesterol absorption in rats

The effects of various structured triglycerides containing medium-chain (caprylic or capric acids) and long-chain (linoleic acid) fatty acids on fatty acid and cholesterol absorption were studied in lymph-cannulated rats. A considerable portion of capric and caprylic acid was absorbed through the lymph duct, although to a lesser extent than was linoleic acid. Capric and linoleic acid located at the 2-position of 2-decanoyl-1,3-dilinoleoyl-glycerol (18∶2/10∶0/18∶2) and 2-linoleoyl-1,3-didecanoyl-glycerol (10∶0/18∶2/10∶0), respectively, tended to be absorbed more efficiently than those located at the 1- and 3-position or those from tricaprin (10∶0/10∶0/10∶0) or trilinolein (18∶2/18∶2/18∶2). A similar trend was observed when the medium-chain fatty acid was caprylic acid instead of capric acid. Caprylic acid absorption from 2-octanoyl-1,3-dilinoleoylglycerol (18∶2/8∶0/18∶2) was significantly greater (p<0.05) than from 2-linoleoyl-1,3-dioctanoyl-glycerol (8∶0/18∶2/8∶0) or tricaprylin (8∶0/8∶0/8∶0). Preferential absorption of caprylic and linoleic acid was not observed when the 1 to 2 and the 2 to 1 mixtures of 8∶0/8∶0/8∶0 and 18∶2/18∶2/18∶2, respectively, were administered. The structured lipids did not affect the lymphatic absorption of cholesterol. The results suggest that structured triglycerides composed of medium-chain fatty acids and linoleic acid may be more useful for the treatment of lipid malabsorption than are mixtures of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) and long-chain triglycride (LCT).     

Effect of medium-chain fatty acid positional distribution in dietary triacylglycerol on lymphatic lipid transport and chylomicron composition in rats

The present study was carried out to examine if the positional distribution of medium-chain fatty acid (MCF) in dietary synthetic fat influences lymphatic transport of dietary fat and the chemical composition of chylomicrons in rats with permanent cannulation of thoracic duct. Four types of synthetic triacylglycerol were prepared: (i) sn-1(3) MCF-sn 2 linoleic acid, (ii) interesterified sn-1(3) MCF-sn 2 linoleic acid, (iii) sn-2 MCF-sn-1(3) linoleic acid, and (iv) interesterified sn-2 MCF-sn-1(3) linoleic acid. A purified diet composed of equal amounts of the synthetic fat and cocoa butter was given to rats with permanent lymph duct cannulation. The positional distribution of MCF in the dietary fat had no significant effect on the lymph flow, triacylglycerol output, phospholipid output, lipid composition of chylomicrons, or the particle size. The positional distribution of MCF in the synthetic triacylglycerol was maintained in the chylomicron triacylglycerol. These results showed that MCF in the dietary triacylglycerol is transported into lymphatics and the positional distribution is well preserved in chylomicron triacylglycerol.     

Bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of bufadienolides‐loaded lipid microspheres after different administrations to rats

The degradation kinetics in vitro and pharmacokinetics of bufadienolides loaded in lipid microsphere (BU‐LM) after intravenous (IV) administration were investigated and compared with bufadienolides solution (BU‐S). The bioavailabilities of BU‐LM after intraportal (F_IP), intraduodenal (F_ID), and intragastric (F_IG) administrations to rats were also evaluated. The degradation kinetics showed that BU‐LM could protect bufadienolides from rapid metabolism in the plasma and gastrointestinal tract. The pharmacokinetic study revealed that BU‐LM after IV administration exhibited longer half‐life, longer mean residence time and higher apparent volume of distribution than intravenous BU‐S. After different routes of administration of BU‐LM, cinobufagin (C), and resibufogenin (R) were metabolized completely and could not be detected at an oral dose of 6 mg/kg. Furthermore, C exhibited a complete hepatic first‐pass effect after IP administration of 0.5 mg/kg BU‐LM. Bufalin (B), the lowest component of the BU‐LM could be detected at any administration and the F_IG, F_ID, and F_IP for B were 43.05, 88.93, and 93.31%, respectively. R had a F_ID and F_IP of only 1.51 and 2.77%, respectively. The results demonstrated that the stomach appeared to be the dominating site of metabolism for B and the liver for C and R. Practical applications: Bufadienolides, consisting of bufalin (B), binobufagin (C), and resibufogenin (R) are easily hydrolyzed (catalyzed by acids, bases, and enzymes) and are metabolized rapidly in rats because of their chemical structures, especially C. However, the three bufadienolides could be protected from degradation effectively and the degradation half‐lives could be extended to different degrees by using lipid microspheres (LM) as a delivery system. Also, after intravenous administration to rats, bufadienolides‐loaded lipid microspheres (BU‐LM) could slow down the metabolism and elimination of bufadienolides, delay the release and increase the targeted effect of the drug compared with bufadienolides aqueous solution (BU‐S_iv). Consequently, LM is a promising alternative vehicle for bufadienolides.     

A lack of correlation among fatty acids associated with different lipid classes in human milk

The fatty acids associated with triacylglycerol, cholesteryl ester, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin in human milk were compared. Ten milk samples were selected for lipid class analysis based on their total lipid polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio (P/S ratio). The P/S ratio of the selected milk samples ranged from 0.3 to 0.8. Linoleic acid was the predominant fatty acid in milk to affect the P/S ratio. The percentage of linoleic acid in milk triacylglycerol was correlated (r=0.84,P<0.05) with the total milk lipid P/S ratio. Linoleic acid esterified to cholesterol was not correlated with total milk lipid P/S ratio but was correlated (r=−0.66,P<0.05) with the quantity of lipid in the milk. Linoleic acid in the phospholipid classes did not correlate with shift in P/S ratio of the total milk lipid or linoleic acid content of other lipid classes.     

Lymphatic recovery of exogenous oleic acid in rats on long chain or specific structured triacylglycerol diets

Specific structured triacylglycerols, MLM (M=medium-chain fatty acid, L=long-chain fatty acid), rapidly deliver energy and long-chain fatty acids to the body and are used for longer periods in human enteral feeding. In the present study rats were fed diets of 10 wt% MLM or LLL (L=oleic acid [18∶1n−9], M=caprylic acid [8∶0]) for 2 wk. Then lymph was collected 24 h following administration of a single bolus of ¹³C-labeled MLM or LLL. The total lymphatic recovery of exogenous 18∶1n−9 24 h after administration of a single bolus of MLM or LLL was similar in rats on the LLL diet (43% and 45%, respectively). However, the recovery of exogenous 18∶1n−9 was higher after a single bolus of MLM compared with a bolus of LLL in rats on the MLM diet (40% and 24%, respectively, P=0.009). The recovery of lymphatic 18∶1n−9 of the LLL bolus tended to depend on the diet triacylglycerol structure and composition (P=0.07). This study demonstrated that with a diet containing specific structured triacylglycerol, the lymphatic recovery of 18∶1n−9 after a single bolus of fat was dependent on the triacylglycerol structure of the bolus. This indicates that the lymphatic recovery of long-chain fatty acids from a single meal depends on the overall long-chain fatty acid composition of the habitual diet. This could have implications for enteral feeding for longer periods.     

Production of structured TAG rich in 1,3-dicapryloyl-2-γ-linolenoyl glycerol from borage oil

γ-Linolenic acid (GLA) has the physiological functions of modulating immune and inflammatory responses. We produced structured TAG rich in 1,3-dicapryloyl-2-γ-linolenoyl glycerol (CGC) from GLA-rich oil (GLA45 oil; GLA content, 45.4 wt%), which was prepared by hydrolysis of borage oil with Candida rugosa lipase having weak activity on GLA. A mixture of GLA45 oil/caprylic acid (CA) (1∶2, w/w) was continuously fed into a fixed-bed bioreactor (18×180 mm) packed with 15 g immobilized Rhizopus oryzae lipase at 30°C, and a flow rate of 4 g/h. The acidolysis proceeded efficiently, and a significant decrease of lipase activity was not observed in full-time operation for 1 mon. GLA45 oil contained 10.2 mol% MAG and 27.2 mol% DAG. However, the reaction converted the partial acylglycerols to structured TAG and tricaprylin and produced 44.5 mol% CGC based on the content of total acylglycerols. Not only FFA in the reaction mixture but also part of the tricaprylin and partial acylglycerols were removed by molecular distillation. The distillation resulted in an increase of the CGC content in the purified product to 52.6 mol%. The results showed that CGC-rich structured TAG can efficiently be produced by a two-step process comprising selective hydrolysis of borage oil using C. rugosa lipase (first step) and acidolysis of the resulting GLA-rich oil with CA using immobilized R. oryzae lipase (second step).     

The composition of cardiac phospholipids in rats fed different lipid supplements

Changes in dietary lipid intake are known to alter the fatty acid composition of cardiac muscle of various animals. Because changes in cardiac muscle membrane structure and function may be involved in the pathogenesis of arrythmia and ischemia, we have examined the effects of dietary lipid supplements on the phospholipid distribution and fatty acid composition of rat atria and ventricle following 20 weeks feeding of diets supplemented with either 12% sunflower-seed oil or sheep fat. Neither lipid supplement produced significant changes in the proportions of cholesterol, total phospholipids or phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine or diphosphatidylglycerol,—the phospholipid classes that together account for more than 90% of the total phospholipids of rat cardiac muscle. Significant changes were found in the profiles of the unsaturated fatty acids of all 3 phospholipid components of both atria and ventricle. Although similar, the changes between these tissues were not identical. However, in general, feeding a linoleic acid-rich sunflower seed oil supplement resulted in an increase in the ω-6 family of fatty acids, whereas feeding the relatively linoleic acid-poor sheep fat supplement decreased the level of ω-6 fatty acids but increased the levels of the ω-3 family, resulting in major shifts in the proportions of these families of acids. In particular, the ratio of arachidonic acid: docosahexaenoic acid (20∶4, ω-6/22∶6, ω-3), which is higher in all phospholipids of atria than ventricle, is increased by feeding linoleic acid, primarily by increasing the level of arachidonic acid in the muscle membranes. As dosahexaenoic acid does not occur in the diet, the increase in this acid which occurs after feeding animal fat, presumably arises from increased conversion of the small amounts of linolenic acid in all diets when the amount of linoleic acid present is reduced.     

Identification of TAG and DAG and their FA Constituents in Lesquerella (Physaria fendleri) Oil by HPLC and MS

Castor oil has many industrial uses because of its high content (90 %) of the hydroxy fatty acid, ricinoleic acid (OH¹²18:1⁹). Lesquerella oil containing lesquerolic acid (Ls, OH¹⁴20:1¹¹) is potentially useful in industry. Ten molecular species of diacylglycerols and 74 molecular species of triacylglycerols in lesquerella (Physaria fendleri) oil were identified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry as lithium adducts of acylglycerols in the HPLC fractions of lesquerella oil. Among them were: LsLsO, LsLsLn, LsLsL, LsLn–OH20:2, LsO–OH20:2 and LsL–OH20:2. The structures of the four new hydroxy fatty acid constituents of acylglycerols were proposed by the MS of the lithium adducts of fatty acids as (comparing to those in castor oil): OH¹²18:2^9,14 (OH¹²18:2^9,13 in castor oil), OH¹²18:3^9,14,16 (OH18:3 not detected in castor oil), diOH^12,1318:2^9,14 (diOH^11,1218:2^9,13 in castor oil) and diOH^13,1420:1¹¹ (diOH20:1 not detected in castor oil, diOH^11,1218:1⁹ in castor oil). Trihydroxy fatty acids were not detected in lesquerella oil. The differences in the structures of these C18 hydroxy fatty acids between lesquerella and castor oils indicated that the polyhydroxy fatty acids were biosynthesized and were not the result of autoxidation products.     

Lipids of cultured hepatoma cells: V. Distribution of isomeric monoene fatty acids in individual lipid classes

Monoenoic acid fractions were isolated from phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, triglycerides, and cholesterol esters derived from minimal deviation hepatoma 7288C cells cultured on 11 media containing varying levels of serums and lipids. Hexadecenoate (16∶1), octadecenoate (18∶1), and eicosenoate (20∶1) fractions were subjected to ozonolysis and the isomeric composition of the monoene fractions determined quantitatively by gas liquid chromatography. The 16∶1 fractions consisted of palmitoleic acid, the Δ9 isomer (85–90%), and the Δ11 isomer (10–15%) in most of the cases; growth media and lipid class origin had little effect upon composition. The predominate acids of the 20∶1 fraction were the Δ13 and Δ11 isomers. Generally, the Δ13 isomer was present in the highest concentration, and this isomer was higher in phosphatidylcholines than the other classes. Vaccenic acid represented 33–66% of the 18∶1 fraction, and the balance was oleic acid. Oleic acid concentrations decreased, and vaccenic acid levels increased as the growth medium serum and lipid levels decreased. Lipid classes did not exhibit any distinct preference for either isomer. These data represent the first quantitative isomeric analysis of monoenoic acids derived from individual lipid classes and are the first to show the occurrence of high levels of vaccenic acid in neoplastic cells. This study suggests that the elevated levels of oleic acid, one of the most frequently observed changes in tumor lipids, may, in fact, represent elevated levels of vaccenic acid.     

Analysis of FA contents in individual lipid fractions from human placental tissue

Data on FA contents in the human placenta are limited. Different methods have been used for the FA analysis, and only percentage results have been presented. We developed and evaluated a method for the determination of FA concentrations in placental tissue. Lipids were extracted from placental tissue with a chloroform/methanol mixture; and phospholipids (PL), nonesterified FA (NEFA), TG, and cholesterol esters (CE) were isolated by TLC. Individual lipid fractions were derivatized with methanolic hydrochloric acid, and the FAME, were quantified by GC with FID. The CV of intra-assay (n=8) of absolute concentrations were evaluated for FA showing a, tissue content >0.01 mg/g. CV ranges were 4.6–11.0% for PL, 6.4–9.3% for NEFA, 6.1–8.9% for TG, and 11.4–16.3% for CE. The relative FA composition across a term placenta indicated no differences between samples of central and peripheral locations of maternal and fetal site (CV 0.5–9.9%), whereas the absolute FA concentrations were only reproducible in the PL fraction (CV 7.0–12.8%). The method shows a reasonably high precision that is well suited for physiological and nutritional studies.     

Lymphatic transport of a physical mixture of medium-and long-chain TAG in rats

Lymphatic transport of a mixture of medium-chain TAG (MCT) and long-chain TAG (LCT) was studied in lymph-cannulated rats. Animals were administered a test emulsion containing either triolein, tricaprylin, or a 1∶1 mixture of triolein and tricaprylin, and the lymph was collected for 24 h. The lymphatic recovery rate of medium-chain FA (MCFA) was significantly higher in rats given the TAG mixture than in those given MCT alone. The lymphatic recovery rate of long-chain FA (LCFA) also was significantly higher in rats given the TAG mixture than in those given LCT alone. No TAG containing three MCFA (i.e., MCT) was detected, and 37.7% of TAG containing one or two MCFA was detected in the lymph TAG when rats were given the TAG mixture. These results indicate that lymphatic transport of MCFA and LCFA can be modified by the combination of MCT and LCT.     

Distribution and biocompatibility studies of graphene oxide in mice after intravenous administration

We determined the distribution and biocompatibility of graphene oxide (GO) in mice by using radiotracer technique and a series of biological assays. Results showed that GO was predominantly deposited in the lungs, where it was retained for a long time. Compared with other carbon nanomaterials, GO exhibited long blood circulation time (half-time 5.3 ± 1.2 h), and low uptake in reticuloendothelial system. No pathological changes were observed in examined organs when mice were exposed to 1 mg kg⁻¹ body weight of GO for 14 days. Moreover, GO showed good biocompatibility with red blood cells. These results suggested that GO might be a promising material for biomedical applications, especially for targeted drug delivery to the lung. However, due to its high accumulation and long time retention, significant pathological changes, including inflammation cell infiltration, pulmonary edema and granuloma formation were found at the dosage of 10 mg kg⁻¹ body weight. More attention should be paid to the toxicity of GO.