Effect of unsaturated fatty acids on the cell viability and antioxidative system of primary rat hepatocytes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 0.5 mM oleic acid (18:1), linoleic acid (18:2) or linolenic acid (18:3) on cell viability (determined as the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase, LDH leakage), lipid peroxidation (measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS), glutathione (GSH)content and enzyme activities related to GSH metabolism in primary rat hepatocytes. The data showed that the LDH leakage of 18:2 and 18:3 groups was significantly higher than the control (without unsaturated fatty acid addition). The TBARS concentration of the 18:3 group was significantly higher than the control; however, there was no significant effect found in the 18:1 group. The total intracellular GSH levels of 18:2 and 18:3 groups were significantly lower than the control; the GSH/GSSG ratios of 18:3 group was significantly lower than the other groups. The glutathione peroxidase (GSH Px) activity decreased with increased time of incubation. GSH Px activities in cells treated with 18:2 and 18:3 groups were significantly lower than the control. After 24 hours of incubation, the glutathione reductase (GSH Rd) activities for 18:3 group were significantly lower than the control. The glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity decreased with the increase of incubation time; thus after 24 hours or incubation, the GST activities of 18:2 and 18:3 groups were significantly lower than the control. In conclusion, when the hepatocytes were treated with 18:3, the cell viability was reduced and the lipid peroxidation increased, probably because 18:3 has more double-bonds than 18:1 and 18:2.