EFFECT OF INTESTINAL RESECTION ON PHOSPHOLIPID CLASS DISTRIBUTION ANDFATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF MUCOSAL CELLS IN THE RAT LARGE-INTESTINE

In this study we examined the effect of 50% distal small bowel resecti on (DSBR) on the lipid composition of rat colonic mucosa, including th e fatty acid composition of major phospholipid classes, phosphatidylet hanolamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylinositol (PI), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), and sphingomyelin (SM). Phospholipid, f ree cholesterol, triacylglycerols, diacylglycerols, and cholesterol es ter levels were not affected by the surgical operation. PE together wi th PC accounted for more than 60% of total phospholipid, in both group s of animals. The relative percentages of PE, PC, PI, SM, and cardioli pin (CL) remained unaffected by DSBR. However, a decrease in the conte nt of LPC was observed in 50%-resected animals. Different fatty acid c omposition changes in the colonic phospholipid classes were observed a fter resection. PC fraction contained the highest amounts of saturated fatty acids, but monounsaturated fatty acids were present in high lev els in PI fraction, in both groups of animals. DSBR produces different changes in the levels of linoleic and arachidonic acids. These result s suggest that the lipid composition and the fatty acid profile of the different phospholipid fractions change in the adaptive response of c olon to intestinal resection.