Or. Velasquez et al., FATTY ACID-INDUCED INJURY IN DEVELOPING PIGLET INTESTINE - EFFECT OF DEGREE OF SATURATION AND CARBON-CHAIN LENGTH, Pediatric research, 33(6), 1993, pp. 543-547
Luminal perfusion with the long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) oleate in conc
entrations similar to that found in premature infant formula produces
a dose- and age-dependent mucosal injury in developing intestine. To i
nvestigate whether this lipid-induced phenomenon is a function of the
degree of saturation and/or chain length of the fatty acid, Cr-51-EDTA
plasma-to-lumen clearance was measured in jejunum and ileum of 1-d-,
3-d-, 2-wk-, and 1-mo-old piglets after perfusion with 5-mM solutions
of different medium-chain saturated fatty acids and saturated and unsa
turated LCFA. Mono- and polyunsaturated LCFA produced significant incr
eases in jejunal permeability. In general, this effect was greater in
piglets less-than-or-equal-to 2 wk old compared with 1-mo-old animals,
but no differences were observed among the unsaturated LCFA within an
age group. In contrast, the alterations in mucosal permeability induc
ed by medium-chain fatty acids were overall more attenuated than those
induced by LCFA. Our results suggest that developing intestine is vul
nerable to the injurious effect of dietary fatty acids and that the li
pid-induced changes in mucosal permeability appear to be a function of
the fatty acid chain length. The degree of saturation of the fatty ac
id does not alter its cytotoxic effects.