DECREASE OF 12-HYDROXYEICOSATETRAENOIC ACID PRODUCTION IN MOUSE LUNGSFOLLOWING DIETARY OLEIC ANILIDE CONSUMPTION - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE TOXIC OIL SYNDROME

A study was performed to examine the ability of dietary oleic anilide to alter 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) production. The str ucture of oleic anilide, synthesized by reacting oleic acid with anili ne, was confirmed by mass spectrometry. The purity of oleic anilide, 7 5%, was measured by gas chromatography. Oleic acid, which constituted the remaining 25%, is a major component of the rapeseed oil vehicle. B alb/c mice were fed oleic anilide as 0.75% of their diet by weight for three weeks. Their lungs were excised and examined for 12-HETE produc tion in vitro. The 12-HETE levels were significantly (p < 0.01) lower in mice fed oleic anilide than in mice fed the oleic acid control diet . This result illustrates eicosanoid production as a target of fatty a cid anilide toxicity. The fatty acid composition, including arachidoni c acid, of mouse lungs from both dietary groups was not different. Thi s confirms the availability of substrate for 12-lipoxygenase in both g roups. Spleen weights were higher in mice fed oleic anilide than in co ntrol mice (p < 0.005). These observations are relevant to immunoregul ation and the autoimmune syndromes noted in patients of the Toxic Oil Syndrome (TOS).