Alterations in renal and aortic prostaglandin E and F formation correlate with blood pressure dietary linoleate deficiency.

Male Wistar rats received for 4 weeks a linoleic acid (LA) rich (13.3 cal. % LA) or an LA deficient (0.5 cal. % LA) diet as well as 1.5% sodium chloride as drinking fluid. Compared with the LA rich diet the LA deficient diet caused an increase in blood pressure of about 10 mmHg. Indomethacin treatment (2 X 1 mg/kg/day s.c.) increased the blood pressure in the LA rich but not in the LA deficient fed rats. The flow rate of isolated perfused kidneys was reduced after 4 weeks LA deficient diet as were aortic and renal PGE formation, whereas PGF formation was only slightly diminished. PGE2 degradation in the kidney was not influenced by the LA content of the diet. We postulate that the prohypertensive effect of LA deficient diet in salt loaded rats is mediated via a reduction of endogenous PGE formation and a shift towards PGF.