Related Experiment Videos
Interstitial pneumonitis induced by ingestion of palmitoyl glycerol
Abstract:
Weanling male mice fed rac-1(3)-palmitoyl glycerol at levels of 30 mmoles/100 g of diet or higher develop, within a few days, a severe pulmonary inflammation characterized by marked infiltration of the interstitium by macrophages and few polymorphonuclear leukocytes. This results in severe vascular stasis, alveolar collapse and death of the animal. Adult mice and weanling rats also show the syndrome, but only at higher levels of palmitoyl glycerol. Neither the position of palmitate on the glycerol nor the level of myo-inositol in the diet affects the toxicity of palmitoyl glycerol. Supplementation of the diet with small amounts of linoleate or oleate prevents the toxicity although oleate is less effective than linoleate. There are no differences between mice fed linoleate and those that were not in: the rate of absorption of palmitoyl glycerol, oxidative phosphorylation by liver or heart mitochondria, excretion of carbon dioxide and tissue distribution of radioactivity following gavage of rac-1(3)-[1-14C]palmitoyl glycerol.
Insights
High dietary levels of rac-1(3)-palmitoyl glycerol cause severe lung inflammation and death in young mice. Supplementation with linoleate or oleate prevents this toxicity.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Nutritional Science
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Rac-1(3)-palmitoyl glycerol is a dietary component.
- Pulmonary inflammation can be triggered by specific dietary factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the toxic effects of rac-1(3)-palmitoyl glycerol on pulmonary health.
- To identify factors influencing or preventing this toxicity.
Main Methods:
- Feeding weanling male mice diets supplemented with varying levels of rac-1(3)-palmitoyl glycerol.
- Observing physiological responses, including pulmonary inflammation and survival rates.
- Testing the effects of dietary linoleate and oleate supplementation.
Main Results:
- High doses (≥30 mmoles/100 g) of rac-1(3)-palmitoyl glycerol induced severe pulmonary inflammation, vascular stasis, alveolar collapse, and mortality in weanling mice.
- Adult mice and rats showed similar effects but required higher doses.
- Dietary linoleate and oleate supplementation prevented the toxic effects, with linoleate being more effective.
- The position of palmitate on glycerol and myo-inositol levels did not affect toxicity.
Conclusions:
- Rac-1(3)-palmitoyl glycerol is a potent pulmonary toxicant in rodents.
- Essential fatty acids, particularly linoleate, can mitigate the toxicity of rac-1(3)-palmitoyl glycerol.
- Further research into the mechanisms of this pulmonary inflammation is warranted.