EFFECTS OF DIETARY FISH-OIL AND CORN-OIL ON BILE-FLOW AND COMPOSITIONIN RATS

A study was undertaken to compare the effects of n-3 and n-6 fatty aci ds on bile flow and bile composition in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing either 10% corn oil or 8% fish oil (MaxEPA) and 2% corn oil for a period of 2 weeks. At the end of the feeding pe riod, rats were fitted with exteriorized cannulas in the duodenum and bile duct. While a glucose-saline solution was infused through the duo denal cannula at 3.0 mL/h, bile was collected hourly for 6 hours. Bile secretion was found to be greater in the fish oil fed rats than the c orn oil fed animals. As a function of bile flow per hour, the bile aci d, cholesterol and phospholipid output appeared to be greater in the g roup receiving fish oil, However, when concentration was determined, t he effect of diet disappeared. Diet had an effect on the fatty acid co mposition of bile phospholipids. Rats fed fish oil had significantly m ore eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in the bile phospholipi ds than those fed corn oil while those fed corn oil had higher levels of arachidonic acid.