P. Degrace et al., MESENTERIC LYMPH ABSORPTION OF EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID IN RATS, Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Physiology, 113(3), 1996, pp. 279-285
Mesenteric lymph recoveries and profiles of labeled eicosapentaenoic a
cid were explored in rats after intraduodenal infusions of 90 mu mol o
f lipid mixtures composed either of 5 mu mol of eicosapentaenoic acid,
25 mu mol of arachidonic acid, 30 mu mol of oleic acid, and 30 mu mol
of monopalmitin or equimolar in eicopentaenoic acid, linoleic acid, a
nd monoolein. Biochemical and morphologic studies were simultaneously
carried out on mesenteric lymph lipoproteins. When administered in fre
e form in the presence of monoglycerides, eicosapentaenoic acid absorp
tion modalities closely resembled those of arachidonic acid given in a
similar design, with a mesenteric lymph recovery of 44% of the infuse
d radioactivity for the 6-h time period following the onset of the lip
id infusion. In spite of 61-71% of eicosapentaenoic acid incorporation
into lymph triglycerides, a significant incorporation into lymph phos
pholipids occurred (13-21%). By increasing the degree of unsaturation
of the lipid mixture infused, the lymph lipoprotein size increased.