Background: There is little information on the effects of diets containing high α-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3) on liver
lipid composition and lipogenic gene expressions. In this study fourteen goats (
Capra aegagrus hircus
) were fed
either a flaxseed oil (FSO) supplemented diet containing high α-linolenic acid or a control diet without added
flaxseed oil (CON) for 100-d to evaluate the effects on liver lipid composition and the gene expression of
peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR-α) and stearoyl-CoA-desaturase (SCD) in the liver.
Results: An increase in the levels of C18:3n-3 and C20:5n-3, C22:5n-3, C22:6n-3 was observed in the liver of
FSO-treated goats. There was a significant (P < 0.05) up-regulation of PPAR-α gene expression and
downregulation of SCD gene in the liver of goats fed the high α-linolenic acid diet.
Conclusions: In conclusion, genes associated with the control of fatty acid (FA) conversion (SCD and PPAR) were
affected by the α-linolenic acid supplementation in the goat diet. It is suggested that PPAR-α is the key
messenger responsible for the translation of nutritional stimuli into changes in hepatic gene expression.
