Peroxisomes in liver, heart, and kidney of mice fed a commercial fish oil preparation: original data and review on peroxisomal changes induced by high-fat diets

• Published in: Journal of lipid research Vol. 35; no. 7; pp. 1241 - 1250
• Main Authors: De Craemer, D, Vamecq, J, Roels, F, Vallée, L, Pauwels, M, Van den Branden, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier 01-07-1994
• Subjects: aceites de pescado; acide gras polyinsature; acidos grasos poliinsaturados; Animals; catalasa; catalase; coeur; corazon; corps gras; cytoplasmic organelles; diet; dieta; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - pharmacology; fats; fish oils; Fish Oils - pharmacology; foie; grasas; heart; higado; huile de poisson; Kidney - enzymology; Kidney - ultrastructure; kidneys; liver; Liver - enzymology; Liver - ultrastructure; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Microbodies - enzymology; Microbodies - ultrastructure; Myocardium - enzymology; Myocardium - ultrastructure; Organ Size - physiology; organite cellulaire; organulos citoplasmicos; oxidacion; oxidation; oxydation; polyunsaturated fatty acids; Random Allocation; raton; regime alimentaire; rein; rinones; Salmon; souris; Species Specificity
• ISSN: 0022-2275; 1539-7262
• DOI: 10.1016/s0022-2275(20)39967-3

Male NMRI mice were fed a diet with 10% w/w Beromegan for up to three weeks Beromegan is a commercial fish (salmon) oil preparation rich in eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Peroxisomal beta-oxidation capacity, catalase activity, and ultrastructural morphometry of the hepatic peroxisomes were investigated. In myocardium and kidney, catalase activity, peroxisomal staining after catalase cytochemistry, peroxisomal morphology, and morphometry (in myocardium) were evaluated. In liver, we found a significant increase in peroxisomal beta-oxidation, catalase activity, and peroxisomal number already after 3 days of dietary treatment. These changes were more pronounced after 3 weeks. Peroxisomal size was not changed. Positive correlations were found between peroxisomal enzyme activities and the number but not the size of the peroxisomes, and between catalase activity and beta-oxidation capacity. The mean peroxisomal diameter per animal was inversely proportional to catalase activity measured in homogenate. In myocardium, catalase activity was increased with duration of fish oil feeding. Peroxisomal staining, number, and size were also increased when compared to controls. In kidney, no alterations were observed. Our results indicate a beneficial effect of a diet supplemented with fish oil on the peroxisomal metabolism in liver and myocardium; it differs from the changes induced by xenobiotic peroxisome proliferation.