The effect of ferric-nitrilotriacetic acid on the profile of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the kidney and liver of rats

Intraperitoneal injection of the iron-complex, ferric-nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA), induces renal proximal tubular damage associated with oxidative damage in vivo. Fe-NTA induced a time-dependent decrease of several polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), together with increased conjugated diene values and decreased cellular levels of alpha -tocopherol and glutathione. At the time of maximum detectable oxidation (3 h), after the injection of a sublethal dose of Fe-NTA there were clear reductions in the peak values over the controls for several fatty acids notably, 20:5 (eicosapentaenoic acid) (36%), 22:6 (docosahexanoic acid) (30%), 20:3 n6 (eicosatrienoic acid) (30%) and 20:4 (arachidonic acid) (28%) in the kidney. Fewer fatty acids showed a reduction in their residual values in the liver. 20:5 was reduced by 45% and for the 18:3 n3 and 18:3 n6, reductions of 35%, respectively. The profile of PUFAs is sensitive to the oxidative damage due to Fe-NTA and this may find applications as oxidative biomarker model. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.