EFFECTS OF DIETARY TRANS N-3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS ON THE RAT ELECTRORETINOGRAM

Trans isomers of a linolenic acid are formed during heat treatment of vegetable oils. As a consequence, they are present in the human diet. Their effects on biological functions are not yet fully understood. In the present work, the effects of dietary trans n-3 fatty acids on the rat electroretinogram (ERG) were studied, as the retina is a tissue p articularly rich in n-3 fatty acids. An isolated perfused rat retina m odel was used in order to monitor the b-wave of the ERG. A diet contai ning ethyl esters of trans alpha linolenic acid isomers or not (contro l) was given to Wistar male rats for 6 weeks. The incorporation of C22 :6 Delta 19 trans fatty acid was studied after this feeding period. Di etary trans isomers of n-3 fatty acids significantly altered the maxim al b-wave amplitude of the isolated retina. The low trans isomers inco rporation in the total retina lipids suggests that further studies are needed to clarify how dietary trans n-3 fatty acids may act. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.