MEDIUM-CHAIN TRIACYLGLYCEROLS EFFECT FATTY-ACID MODIFICATION IN RATS KIDNEY

The aim of this investigations was to study the effect of a short time medium-chain triacylglycerols diet (MCTD) on the lipids (particularly of fatty acids) of the rat kidney. During 14 days, two groups of rats (Fischer strain) were fed a MCTD (18.7% MCTs, 16.5 kJ/g dry matter) o r an isoenergetic control diet (standard rat chow). Total lipids were isolated and separated into particular lipid classes by thin-layer chr omatography. No essential differences in the distribution of analyzed lipids (cholesterol, cholesterol ester, tracylglycerols, free fatty ac ids, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyeline) were noticed after MCTD. The results showed no changes in the concent ration of total neutral lipids, but slight changes appeared in the con centration of particular classes of neutral lipids. Concentrations of cholesterol and cholesterol ester were decreased by approximately 14% by MCTD feeding and, at the same time, the concentration of triacylgly cerols, free fatty acids and esters of fatty acids was increased by 4% . The ratio of free cholesterol to total phospholipids (C/P) decreased (17%) after MCTD. The data indicate a significant increase in fatty a cid saturation (expressed asa saturation factor (S-f)) affected by MCT D. Both of the mentioned data (C/P ratio, Sc), as well as' some additi onal ones reported in this paper, suggest that MCTD can affect the mem brane fluidity, although at present it is not possible to judge whethe r or not such effects could change the physiological function of the k idney.