Effects of long term consumption of fish oil (Maxepa) on serum lipids and arterial ultrastructure in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

Both random (U.C. Davis) and inbred ("Sea") Japanese quail were fed 8.6% dietary supplements of lard (SF) or fish oil (FO) Maxepa (38% of calories from fat) and 9 months later selected blood vessels were subjected to light and electron microscopy. Serum lipids were measured by means of automatic enzymatic analyses (Beckman Astra and Dupont ACA) following fasting (12-14 h) bleeding times taken at autopsy. VLDL and LDL were determined indirectly. Fatty acid profiles were done on pericardial fat from selected animals. All FO-fed quail averaged 22-48% increase in bleeding time when compared to diet controls or animals fed saturated fat (P less than 0.005). There was a 20% decrease in triacyglycerol (TG) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) in the random bred group (P less than 0.01). TG rose in the Sea Quail (NS). Low density lipoprotein (LDL) increased in both random (P less than 0.05) and inbred quail (P less than 0.05), but total cholesterol (TC) significantly increased only in the inbred birds (P less than 0.01). The HDL/LDL ratios in the FO groups were lower than in the controls. SF-fed animals had some fatty streak and/or fatty point formation in their coronary arteries and great vessels. FO-fed birds showed some fat deposits in their coronary arteries and greater accumulation (foam cells) within their great vessels with subendothelial protrusions into the lumen. It is suggested that these latter results may be a response to the relatively higher levels of cholesterol in FO (600 mg/100 g oil) versus SF (95 mg/100 g fat).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)