Peroxisomes in mice fed a diet supplemented with low doses of fish oil

• Published in: Lipids Vol. 30; no. 8; pp. 701 - 705
• Main Authors: Branden, C. van den (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.), Craemer, D. de, Pauwels, M, Vamecq, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer‐Verlag 01-08-1995
• Subjects: ACEITES DE PESCADO; ACIDE GRAS POLYINSATURE; ACIDOS GRASOS POLIINSATURADOS; ACTIVIDAD ENZIMATICA; ACTIVITE ENZYMATIQUE; Animals; BETA-OXIDATION; CATALASA; CATALASE; Catalase - metabolism; COEUR; COMPLEMENT ALIMENTAIRE; CORAZON; CORPS GRAS; CYTOPLASMIC ORGANELLES; DIET; DIETA; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - administration & dosage; DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID; Docosahexaenoic Acids - administration & dosage; ENZYMIC ACTIVITY; FATS; FISH OILS; Fish Oils - administration & dosage; FOIE; GRASAS; HEART; HIGADO; HUILE DE POISSON; Kidney - enzymology; Kidney - ultrastructure; KIDNEYS; LIVER; Liver - enzymology; Liver - ultrastructure; Male; MICE; Microbodies - metabolism; Microbodies - ultrastructure; Myocardium - enzymology; Myocardium - ultrastructure; ORGANITE CELLULAIRE; ORGANULOS CITOPLASMICOS; OXIDACION; OXIDATION; Oxidation-Reduction; OXYDATION; POLYENOIC FATTY ACIDS; POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS; RATON; REGIME ALIMENTAIRE; REIN; RINONES; SOURIS; SUPLEMENTOS; SUPPLEMENTS
• ISSN: 0024-4201; 1558-9307
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02537795

The influence of low dietary doses (0.1 and 0.8% w/w) of a commercial fish oil preparation on peroxisomes in normal mice was studied and compared to the known strong inductive effects of high (10%) fish oil diets. Low fish oil doses were chosen to supply the mice with a concentration of docosahexaenoic acid, which was beneficial to patients with a peroxisomal disease. Peroxisomes were evaluated by cytochemical, morphometric, and enzymological techniques. The 0.1% fish oil diet had no effect on peroxisomes in liver, heart, and kidney even after prolonged treatment. The 0.8% diet did not change the peroxisomal number nor the catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) activity in the liver. Hepatic peroxisomal β‐oxidation, however, was increased by 50% after 14 d. This was accompanied by reduced peroxisomal size. The 0.8% diet also caused a small increase (+25%) in myocardial catalase activity. No effect was observed in kidneys. Our results indicate that in mice a low (<0.8%) dietary fish oil dose has no or only a slight effect on hepatic peroxisomal β‐oxidation. This may be of particular interest to patients with a peroxisomal fatty acid β‐oxidation defect and who display a severe deficiency of docosahexaenoic acid—diets supplemented with low fish oil doses will improve the docosahexaenoic acid level without adding a strong load to the disturbed fatty acid metabolism.