[Effect of diets with different content of polyunsaturated fatty acids on ATPase activity in different rat tissues]

The authors studied the effect of the diets with varying content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on ATPase activity in the heart, kidneys and lungs of Wistar rats. During 3 weeks the rats received different diets. Group I was kept on the diet poor in PUFA, Group II on the diet rich in linoleic acid, and Group III on the diet rich in linolenic acid. The content of PUFA in food has no effect on ATPase activity in the lungs. The maximal activity of Mg-ATPase in the heart was seen in the Group III rats, while the minimal in the Group I rats (P less than 0.05). On the contrary, Na, K-ATPase activity was minimal in the Group III rats (P-0.05). Examination of ATPase activity in the kidneys has demonstrated no substantial difference between Groups II and III as regards Mg-ATPase activity, whereas Mg-ATPase activity in the Group I animals was significantly reduced (P less than 0.02). As Na, K-ATPase activity in the kidneys increased (Group II, P-0.05) excretion of Na and K with urine considerably diminished.