INTESTINAL LYMPH ABSORPTION OF BUTTER, CORN-OIL, COD-LIVER OIL, MENHADEN OIL, AND EICOSAPENTAENOIC AND DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID ETHYL-ESTERS INRATS

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.