CHANGES IN DIETARY-LIPID SATURATION MODIFY FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION AND HIGH-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN BINDING OF ADIPOCYTE PLASMA-MEMBRANE

Binding of rat high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to adipocyte plasma membranes appears to be mediated by specific protein-recognition sites, but membrane lipids may also affect these interactions. To study the effect of dietary fatty acid composition on adipocyte-membrane phospholipid composition and HDL binding, male Wistar rats (250 ± 10 g) were fed diets high in polyunsaturated (20% wt:wt sunflowerseed oil) or saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (20% lard, by weight). Sunflower-oil vs lard feeding significantly increased the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of membrane diacyglycerophospholipids and the (22:0 and 24:0) content of long-chain fatty acids of sphingomyelin (p < 0.05) from epididymal and perirenal adipocyte plasma membranes. Concomitant with these changes in membrane phospholipid composition, sunflower-oil vs lard treatment significantly increased the maximum binding capacity (Bmax) of 125I-labeled HDL2 (p < 0.05). These results show that feeding polyunsaturated fatty acids enhanced HDL2 Bmax of adipocyte plasma membranes, possibly as a consequence of altering the fatty acid composition of membrane phospholipids.