Dietary linoleic acid deprivation: effects on blood pressure and PGI2 synthesis

The possible role of arachidonic acid metabolites in the regulation of arterial blood pressure was investigated in rats receiving 0, 5, or 9 energy (en) % linoleic acid in their diet (groups 1-3) over 6 wk. In group 1 animals, systolic arterial blood pressure significantly increased from 100.5 +/- 2.0 to 110.6 +/- 3.1 mmHg (P less than 0.01) after 6 wk of dietary linoleic acid deprivation, whereas no effect on blood pressure was observed in group 2 and 3 animals receiving dietary linoleic acid supplements. Generation of prostacyclin (PGI2)-like activity by isolated aorta from rats fed the different diets was determined using a platelet-aggregation bioassay following incubation of aortic tissue for 12, 15, and 30 min, respectively. In isolated aorta from rats fed the 5 en% linoleic acid, production of PGI2 was 55.9 +/- 1.2, 70.5 +/- 2.6, and 90.9 +/- 3.6 pmol/mg over the three incubation periods. In group 1 animals, a significant suppression of PGI2 generation to 35.4 +/- 1.5, 41.1 +/- 1.7, and 55.0 +/- 1.2 pmol/mg (P less than 0.005) was observed, whereas PGI2 production was unaltered in aortic tissue from group 3 animals. In contrast, plasma concentrations of circulating thromboxane B2 were highest in group 1 animals (2.15 +/- 0.38 pmol/ml) and measured 1.28 +/- 0.17 and 0.83 +/- 0.10 pmol/ml in group 2 and 3 animals, respectively. Our results demonstrate that dietary deprivation of the arachidonic acid precursor linoleic acid increases arterial blood pressure that is associated with a suppression of vascular PGI2 synthesis and, most likely, a secondary rise in circulating thromboxane concentrations.