LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO DOCOSENOIC ACIDS IN ANIMALS: ABSENCE OF MYOCARDIAL LESIONS IN HARP SEALS (PAGOPHILUS GROENLANDICUS) AND GREY SEALS (HALICHOERUS GRYPUS)

Hearts were collected from 46 harp or grey seals of various ages and sexes. After fixation in formalin, sections were cut and stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and in a limited number of cases with Oil-Red-0. Histopathological examination revealed the presence of non-specific myocarditis in two instances only and no lipid deposits. The percentage of docosenoic acid (primarily 22:1ω11) in blubber and heart muscle triglyceride, tabulated for grey seal dam-pup pairs is evidence of exposure from birth. These results indicate that the susceptibility of the rat myocardium to docosenoic acids may not be as broadly relevant in other species such as the seal, pig and man as has been proposed.