Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid and antioxidant modulation of vascular dysfunction in the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Two currently available edible oils–olive and canola–and two oil blends of plant origin having different n-3/n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratios were evaluated for their ability to modify vascular dysfunction in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Synthetic diets supplemented with test oils (5% w/w) were fed for 12 weeks, and segments of thoracic aorta used to assess vascular function. Vessels from the SHR displayed a spontaneous constrictor response after the inhibition of endothelial cell nitric oxide (NO) with Nω-nitro-L-arginine (NOLA). Dietary α -linoleate enrichment led to a reduction (P