Effect of C18-polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Their Direct Incorporation into the Rumen Bacterial Lipids and CLA Production In vitro

An in vitro study was conducted to determine the effect of C18-polyunsaturated fatty acid on direct incorporation into the rumen bacteria, bio-hydrogenation and production of CLA in vitro. Sixty milligrams of linoleic acid ($C_{18:2}$) or linolenic acid ($C_{18:3}$) were absorbed into the 0.5 g cellulose powder was added to the 150 ml culture solution consisting of 120 ml McDougall's buffer and 30 ml strained rumen fluid. Four uCi of 1-$^{14}C_{18:2}$ or 1-$^{14}C_{18:3}$ (1 uCi/15 mg each fatty acid) were also added to the corresponding fatty acids to estimate the direct incorporation into the bacterial lipids. The culture solution was then incubated anaerobically in a culture jar with stirrer at 39$^{\circ}C$ for 12 h. Ammonia concentration and pH of the culture solution were slightly influenced by the fatty acids. Amount of fatty acid incorporated into the bacteria was 1.20 mg and 0.43 mg/30 ml rumen fluid for $C_{18:2}$ and $C_{18:3}$, respectively during 12 h incubation. Slightly increased CLA (sum of cis-9, trans-11 and cis-10, trans-12 $C_{18:2}$) was obtained from the $C_{18:3}$ addition compared to that from $C_{18:2}$ after 12 h incubation in vitro.