BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Lipotoxicity-induced cardiovascular diseases are increasing significantly in human populations. The effect of linoleic acid in reducing lipotoxicity of cardiac muscle cells was investigated in this study.

METHODS: In this empirical study, ventricular muscle cells from the hearts of five adult rats were cultured in 24-well plates. They were randomly treated in four groups including one control group (0.5 mM bovine serum albumin (BSA)) and three treatment groups treated with palmitic acid (0.5 mM), linoleic acid (0.25 mM) and a combination of linoleic acid and palmitic acid (0.25 mM + 0.5 mM). Wells in each row of plates were dedicated to one group. Level of cellular triacylglycerol, cellular diacylglycerol, DNA Fragmentation and survival rate was evaluated 24 and 48 hours after culturing. Each two wells belonging to each group were used to evaluate every factor and all the steps were repeated three times.

FINDINGS: Compared with palmitic acid treatment alone, adding linoleic acid to palmitic acid decreased the level of DNA Fragmentation by 4.65% and 6.15% (p<0.001) and decreased cellular diacylglycerol content by 0.36% and 4.88% (p>0.05). It also increased the level of cellular triacylglycerol by 40% and 44% (p<0.03) and increased cellular survival by 6.25% and 10.52% (p<0.01), respectively 24 and 48 hours after cultivation.

CONCLUSION: Results of the study revealed that linoleic acid reduces the palmitic acid-induced toxicity by producing triacylglycerol