The effect of elaidic acid incorporation upon the lipid composition of ehrlich ascites tumor cells and of the host's liver

Abstract

The incorporation of elaidic acid into Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EATC) upon feeding the host an elaidic acid‐rich diet has been investigated in the present study. The EATC lipids contained only one‐half the concentration of elaidic acid found in the lipids of either the host livers or of livers from normal mice. On the other hand, elaidic acid incorporation into tumor cells was close to that of ascites fluid. This incorporation was mainly into phospholipids; the highest into choline phospholipids and ethanolamine phospholipids. Some changes in the EATC fatty acid composition were noted due to this incorporation. EATC phospholipids had reduced polyunsaturated fatty acids as compared with oleic acid‐grown cells. The same was true with respect to ascites fluid phospholipids, but neutral lipids were not altered. Tumor development was accompanied by an increase in elaidic acid of the host's liver. Elaidic acid incorporation into tumor cells resulted in a reduction in the amount of all major lipids in the tumor. In contrast, elaidic acid had no effect on lipid composition of livers from normal mice and‐tumor bearing mice, and also had no effect upon the lipids of the ascites fluid that bathes the tumor cells. The incorporation of elaidic acid into the lipids of EATC, normal liver and host liver did not affect the relative composition of phospholipids in these tissues. The development of the tumor did result in decreases in triacylglycerols and esterified cholesterol, and increases in phospholipids and free cholesterol in the livers of host animals.