Effect of strain, sex and duration of feeding on plasma fatty acids of rats fed various dietary oils.

Experiments were conducted to determine if regression of cardiac lipidosis and strain or sex differences in susceptibility to cardiopathological change induced by rapeseed oils are coincident with physiological differences in fatty acid substrates supplied to the heart. Plasma fatty acid composition was determined in male Sprague-Dawley rats after 7 or 28 days and in female Sprague-Dawley and male Chester-Beatty rats after 28 days of feeding high or low erucic acid rapeseed oils, soybean oil or peanut oil. After 28 days, C14:0 and C18:1 fell and C20:4 increased as a percent of total fatty acid in all animals irrespective of oil fed, suggesting that changes in plasma fatty acids normally occur with development. Saturated and essential fatty acid profiles of male and female rats were different. Differences in plasma fatty acids stemming from sex-related physiological differences in whole body fat metabolism may form the basis of lower cardiopathological involvement for females. Results suggest physiological differences unrelated to plasma fatty acids determine strain differences in timing and severity of rapeseed oil-induced cardiac pathology.