Cholesteryl ester depletion from the ovaries of superovulated female rats fed a normal or essential fatty acid deficient diet

Abstract

The cholesteryl ester content of the ovaries was determined in rats fed diets containing corn oil or hydrogenated coconut oil (essential fatty acid (EFA) deficient) and subjected to superovulation by injection of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. Superovulation increased ovarian weight; the effect was greater in animals fed corn oil. Superovulation significantly decreased total ovarian cholesteryl ester concentration in animals fed corn oil, with disproportionately large decreases occurring in the esters of 20:1, 20:2, 22:5ω6, and 22:6ω3. Significant decreases were observed in these esters when the data were expressed on a unit mass of tissue basis or in relation to total ovarian mass. In superovulated, EFA-deficient rats, esters of 18:1, 20:1, 22:5ω6, and 22:6ω3 were significantly lower per unit mass of tissue but this was due, in all cases except that of 22:6ω3, to the increased mass of ovarian tissue; there was no decrease in total esters per ovary weight during superovulation of deficient rats. The pattern and degree of selective changes in ovarian cholesteryl esters during superovulation were different from those previously reported for adrenal esters of stresssd rats.