The reactivity of isolated blood vessels of salt-loaded rats fed low or high linoleic acid diets.

Vessel reactivity was studied on isolated arterial vessels of salt-loaded rats fed a linoleic acid (LA)-rich or a LA-deficient diet. The results showed that an LA-rich diet decreased arterial reactivity to prostaglandins (especially to PGE2) and an LA-deficient diet increased the sensitivity to angiotensin II. These differences were not so obvious with PGA2 and norepinephrine. The results provide evidence that dietary linoleic acid exerts an effect on the responsiveness of the vessels to vasoactive stimuli.