Effect oftrans fatty acids on plasma lipids, platelet function and systolic blood pressure in stroke‐prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract
To investigate the effect oftrans fatty acids on plasma lipid levels and systolic blood pressure, hydrogenated corn oil was fed to SHRSP (stroke‐prone spontaneously hypertensive rats) and WKY (Wistar‐Kyoto) rats for 30 days. Significantly lower systolic blood pressure and plasma total cholesterol were observed in SHRSP rats fedtrans fatty acids when compared with rats fedcis fatty acids from olive oil. In addition, higher HDL cholesterol and lower VLDL plus chylomicron cholesterol levels were found in SHRSP rats fedtrans fatty acids. Although no significant changes of systolic blood pressure and plasma total cholesterol levels were observed in WKY rats aftertrans fatty acids treatment, WKY rats fedtrans fatty acids had lower plasma LDL cholesterol and higher HDL cholesterol levels. In addition, platelet aggregation induced by collagen was decreased in WKY rats fedtrans fatty acids. It is interesting thattrans fatty acids increased the activity of plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) in both SHRSP and WKY rats. The observed influence oftrans fatty acids on plasma lipid levels, systolic blood pressure and platelet aggregation suggests thattrans fatty acids might prevent thrombotic disorders in SHRSP rats.