Effects of Dietary Elaidic Acid on Membrane Function in Rat Mitochondria and Erythrocytes

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Abstract
Possible changes of membrane functions in rat erythrocytes and liver mitochondria due to incorporated elaidic acid were investigated. To this end, weanling rats were fed a diet containing 8% elaidinized olive oil which led to a significant incorporation of elaidic acid into the lipids of these structures. After 6 weeks, liver mitochondria from this group swelled at a rate 2 to 3 times greater than those from control rats fed native olive oil, when the experiments were performed in hypotonic medium containing inorganic phosphate. Rates of α-lecithinase-induced hemolysis were 5 times those of controls. Resistance of the red cells to osmotic stress, copper, chenodeoxycholate and non-ionic solutes were not much different in both groups. Transport of sodium ion proceeded at a slightly faster rate in red blood cells rich in elaidic acid.