Influence of dietary linoleic acid on the prostacyclin-production of the isolated pulsatingly perfused rabbit aorta.

Dietary prevention of atherosclerosis and its risk factors by linoleic acid is an easy, safe and important way. In the rabbit, which develops an atherosclerosis similar to the human disease, we looked for effects of a linoleic acid-rich diet (25 en percent) on the formation of arachidonic acid metabolites in the vessel wall and in blood platelets because atherosclerosis is thought to be caused by a change in this balance. For measuring the PGI2-release of the vessel wall we used the model of the isolated pulsatingly perfused aorta, which is described in detail. Both dietary groups of healthy male Dutch rabbits did not show any difference in the formation of arachidonic acid metabolites or in their balance. With 25 en percent linoleic acid the phospholipids contained more linoleic acid and less oleic acid, while arachidonic acid tended to decrease.