Abstract
A series of experiments was conducted to study the effects of dietary and injected lead (as Pb acetate-3H2O) and of dietary Cd, Hg, and Se on fatty acid composition of serum lipids of chicks as measured by gas-liquid chromatography. The effect of dietary Pb on fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes was measured also. Dietary Pb (1000 ppm) increased the serum concentration of arachidonic acid (20:4, first no. = no. of carbon atoms:second no. = no. of double bonds) and decreased the concentration of linoleic acid (18:2) and the ratio 18:2/20:4. Intraperitoneal injection of Pb (52 mg/100 g body weight) did not alter serum fatty acid composition by 4 h post-injection. The separate effects of 2000 ppm Pb, 60 ppm Cd, 500 ppm Hg, and 10 ppm Se added to the diet on serum fatty acids were measured in a single experiment. In comparison to controls, Pb and Cd lowered serum concentration of 18:2. Only Pb raised serum 20:4. Pb lowered the ratio 18:2/20:4, whereas Cd and Hg raised the ratio and Se was without effect. Dietary Pb (2000 ppm) raised the concentration of 20:4 and lowered the ratio 18:2/20:4 in erythrocyte membranes. The different effects of injected and dietary Pb on the serum 18:2/20:4 ratio suggest that Pb alters 20:4 synthesis from 18:2 rather than mobilization of 20:4 from tissues. The Pb-induced increase of lipid peroxida-tion in erythrocytes observed by other workers may be a reflection of increased 20:4 level in erythrocyte membranes.
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Donaldson, W.E. Effects of dietary lead, cadmium, mercury, and selenium on fatty acid composition of blood serum and erythrocyte membranes from chicks. Biol Trace Elem Res 7, 255–262 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02989250
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02989250
Index Entries
- Lead, and blood fatty acids
- cadmium, and blood fatty acids
- mercury, and blood fatty acids
- selenium, and blood fatty acids
- erythrocyte membranes, and Pb, Cd, Hg, and Se
- fatty acid composition, and Pb, Cd, Hg, and Se
- blood serum, and Pb, Cd, Hg, and Se
- serum, and Pb, Cd, Hg, and Se
- membranes, Pb, Cd, Hg, and Se effects on erythrocyte