Journal of Lipid Research, Vol 17, 456-466, Copyright © 1976 by Lipid Research, Inc.
Effect of essential fatty acid deficiency on the lipid composition of the Yoshida ascites hepatoma (AH 130) and of the liver and blood plasma from host and normal rats
S Ruggieri, A Fallani and D Tombaccini
In order to study the response of a poorly differentiated tumor to
nutritional manipulation, the Yoshida ascites hepatoma (AH 130) was grown
in rats fed an essential fatty acid (EFA)-deficient diet and in rats fed a
control diet. Hepatomas, livers, and blood plasma from host rats and normal
rats were studied as to the effects of EFA deficiency on the lipid
composition. Normal rats fed an EFA-deficient diet showed an increased
concentration of triglycerides and cholesteryl esters in the liver and a
reduced level of total phospholipids in plasma. Host rats fed the
EFA-deficient diet showed a lower concentration of triglycerides in the
liver when compared with the host rats fed a control diet. In addition,
EFA-deficient host rats had reduced levels of plasma free fatty acids and
triglycerides. These latter were markedly high in host rats under normal
dietetic conditions. As compared to the livers of either host rats or
normal rats fed the control diet, the Yoshida hepatoma cells had a lower
content of total phospholipids and free fatty acids as well as a higher
level of free cholesterol; they also showed a typical fatty acid pattern in
their phospholipids. The main characteristics of this pattern were a high
content of oleic and palmitoleic acids and a low level of C20 and C22
polyunsaturated fatty acids. Exposure of Yoshida hepatoma cells to an
EFA-deficient environment resulted in a decrease in the concentration of
total phospholipids and free fatty acids and in changes in the fatty acid
composition similar to those observed in the livers of normal and host
rats. These changes suggest that, under the experimental conditions used,
the Yoshida hepatoma cells are responsive to EFA deficiency.