Chemical analysis and biological activities of fatty acids from the liver of x-ray irradiated rabbit, the antitumor agent so-called OX

Chemical and biological characteristics of the unsaturated fatty acids from the liver of irradiated and non-irradiated animals and some unsaturated fatty acids in sale have been described. The unsaturated fatty acid fractions from the rabbit liver taken after irradiating animal with x-ray show hardly any difference from those of non-irradiated animal in each component. But the former were distinguished from the latter in the increased rate of velocity of autoxidation. Similar characteristics were observed on the unsaturated fatty acids irradiated in vitro. They developed less labile free radicals with the shift of the double bonds to the carboxylic group and the conjugated double bonds, dienoic and trienoic acids. Biologically, the fatty acids from the irradiated animal suppressed the growth of bacteria requiring unsatturated fatty acid. And they are slightly stronger in the activity of uncoupling effect for the oxidative phosphorylation and the swelling of mitochondria comparing to those of general fatty acids, oleic and linoleic acids. They showed a strong lytic activity on the cell membrane as in the case of general fatty acids, linoleic, oleic, and some long chain unsaturated fatty acids. Tumor cells surviving through the treatment with unsaturated fatty acids changed the cell characteristics temporarily, with a slow-down of the ascites development and the cell growth.