Effect of Emulsions of Medium and Long Chain Triglyceride on Human Adipose Tissue Prostaglandin Production in Vitro

Preliminary in vitro studies have been performed to assess the effect of experimental lipid emulsions of varying fatty acid composition on human adipose tissue metabolism. Subcutaneous human adipose tissue was obtained during elective surgery and placed in tissue culture. Physical mixtures of long chain triglyceride (LCT) and/or medium chain triglyceride (MCT) were added to the tissue culture medium so that the final concentration was 400 mg/dl. After a 3-day incubation period the tissue was harvested, placed in buffer and used to determine in vitro production of the prostaglandins prostacyclin I2 (measured as its stable endproduct 6-keto PGF1α), thromboxane A2 (measured as TXB2), and prostaglandin E2. Measurements of the fatty acid profile found in the neutral- and phospholipid fraction of the adipose tissue and fat cell size were also made. The results demonstrate that samples incubated in 100% MCT had the most significant increase in prostaglandin production whereas those incubated in 100% LCT had the ...