Effect of Fish Protein on Isoprenaline-Induced Alterations in Lipid and Antioxidant Status in Adipose Tissue of Rats

The present study was designed to examine the protective effect of 20% fish protein in adipose tissue of isOprenaline-treated male albino rats. The protective effect was determined based on the following criteria: total body and adipose tissue weight, protein concentration in adipose tissue, total lipid in adipose tissue, concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids and phospholipids of serum and adipose tissue and anti-peroxidative enzymes in adipose tissue. Fish protein feeding brought about a significant decrease in the total body weight and adipose tissue weight and in levels of adipose tissue total lipid, cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acids. Fish protein fed rats showed significant rise in adipose tissue protein content. It also prevented a rise in antiperoxidative enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase and elevated the levels of reduced glutathione which indicates that fish protein protects against lipid peroxidation. Fish protein feeding has also led to lowering of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acids and increased the proportion of HDL cholesterol. The protective effect of fish protein is believed to be due to its unique amino acids content namely, the reduced methionine: glycine and lysine: arginine ratios and increased sulphur containing amino acids.