EFFECT OF ERUCIC ACID ON INCORPORATION OF ACETATE-1-C14 INTO CHOLESTEROL AND FATTY ACIDS
Young male rats were fed synthetic diets containing either no fat or various individual fatty acids for 3 to 4 weeks. They were then killed and the incorporation of acetate-1-C14 into cholesterol and fatty acids was measured in liver slices and in scrapings of intestinal mucosa. Acetate incorporation into cholesterol by liver slices was much greater in animals fed erucic acid than in those fed no fat, palmitic, stearic, oleic, or linoleic acids. A marked differential was not observed in fatty acid incorporation but values tended to be higher on the fat-free and erucic acid diets. Erucic acid did not stimulate acetate incorporation into cholesterol by mucosa and in general mucosa seemed to be less sensitive to changes in diet. The results are discussed in relation to previously observed effects of erucic acid on cholesterol metabolism.