Effect of dietary trans fatty acids on cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase activities in different organs of rats.

The effect of trans fatty acids and essential fatty acid deficiency upon the activities of cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase in livers, hearts, brains and lungs of rats was studied. This study was performed using three groups of male albino rats. Two out of these three groups were fed essential fatty acid low diets containing 10% hydrogenated coconut oil (HCNO) or margarine stock (MS, partially hydrogenated soybean oil) while the third group was fed an adequate supply of essential fatty acids through a diet containing 10% corn oil (CO). In the group of rats fed HCNO the activities of cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase in their livers, hearts, brains and lungs were not significantly different from those of the control group fed CO. In the group of rats fed MS, the activity of cholinesterase was significantly decreased in the livers, hearts and brains, but not affected in the lungs, while the activity of monoamine oxidase was significantly decreased in the livers and hearts but not affected in the brains and lungs as compared to the control group fed CO. The levels of serum total lipids, total cholesterol and triglycerides were elevated in both groups of rats fed HCNO or MS than in the group fed CO, but this elevation was more highly significant in the group fed MS than in the group fed HCNO.