STUDIES ON THE MECHANISMS BY WHICH ERUCIC ACID AFFECTS CHOLESTEROL METABOLISM: DISTRIBUTION OF ERUCIC ACID IN ADRENAL AND PLASMA LIPIDS

Abstract

The effect of dietary erucic acid on the fatty acid composition of cholesterol ester, triglyceride and phospholipid fractions of rat adrenal, and plasma has been determined. Lipid classes were separated by chromatography on Florisil and their component fatty acids were determined by gas–liquid chromatography. Erucic acid was found in large amounts in adrenal cholesterol esters and in moderate amounts in adrenal and plasma triglycerides. Only small amounts were found in plasma cholesterol esters or the phospholipids of either adrenals or plasma. Eicosenoic acid was observed in some cases and the level of oleic acid was increased in most lipid classes of both tissues. This indicated partial stepwise oxidation of erucic acid. The increase in adrenal cholesterol caused by feeding erucic acid appears to be due primarily to accumulation of cholesterol erucate.