P. Degrace et al., INTESTINAL LYMPH ABSORPTION OF BUTTER, CORN-OIL, COD-LIVER OIL, MENHADEN OIL, AND EICOSAPENTAENOIC AND DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID ETHYL-ESTERS INRATS, Lipids, 31(4), 1996, pp. 405-414
Adult male rats were surgically given a drainage catheter in the main
mesenteric lymph duct. After an overnight fast, five groups of rats re
ceived intragastrically, in one bolus, butter, corn oil (GO), cod live
r oil (CLO), menhaden oil (MO), or ethyl esters of eicosapentaenoic (E
PA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids (K80). Intestinal lymph was collec
ted in these conscious animals, each hour during the first 6 h and in
a single sample for the next 18 h. The absorption peak appeared earlie
r after MO and CO than after CLO administration. The quantities of tri
glycerides recovered during the first 6 h were significantly lower aft
er butter (91 mg) and K80 (54 mg) administration than for the other th
ree oils. No difference was observed between the vegetable oil and the
two marine oils (CO = 173 mg, CLO = 148 mg, MO = 180 mg). The total t
riglyceride recovered in 24 h was highest after CLO (410 mg) and lowes
t with K80 (146 mg). An increase in the weight percentage of some char
acteristic fatty acids of the lipid mixtures was observed: oleic acid
for butter, oleic and linoleic acids for CO, EPA and DHA for CLO, MO,
and K80. Chylomicrons were the largest with CO, more numerous and smal
ler with CLO, and the smallest with K80. Results obtained illustrated
the relation between gastrointestinal hydrolysis, enterocyte biochemic
al events, and lymph triglyceride absorption profiles as related to th
e composition and distribution of triglyceride fatty acids.