Biological studies with cyclopropenoids inactivated with fatty acids

Cyclopropenoids inactivated by reactingSterculia foetida oil with cottonseed oil fatty acids were fed at three dietary levels to growing rats and laying hens for 4 weeks. At the termination of the experiments, all animals were autopsied and examined microscopically for pathological lesions, but no pathology that could be related to dietary treatment was observed. Hemoglobin, packed cell volume and plasma cholesterol were similar in animals fed all of the diets. Growth rate of rats and egg production of hens fed the experimental diets were similar to those of animals fed the control diet. After 3 and 6 months of storage, eggs from hens fed the inactivated cyclopropenoids were normal and showed no evidence of the unusual characteristics of cyclopropenoid feeding. Lipids of heart, liver and adipose tissues of all the rats and hens varied little from the normal fatty acid composition. Small amounts of three unidentified fatty acids were found in the adipose tissues of rats fed the higher levels of inactivated cyclopropenoids. The results of these feeding studies suggest that inactivation of cyclopropenoids with fatty acids eliminates the unusual biological effects attributable to cyclopropenoids.