Metabolic changes induced by w-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid rich-diet (w-3 PUFA) on the thymus, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes of adult rats.
The maximal activity of key enzymes of glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, TCA cycle and glutaminolysis were measured in the immune tissues of rats fed w-3 PUFA during 6 weeks. Total lipid peroxidation and glutathione peroxidase activity were also measured. The hexokinase activity was enhanced 4-fold in the spleen and thymus, doubled in the liver and was diminished in mesenteric lymph nodes (35%). Citrate synthase activity was decreased in the spleen and lymph nodes and increased in the thymus. G-6-PDH activity was increased 2-fold in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes and by 20% in the thymus whereas it was reduced (66%) in the liver. Glutathione peroxidase activity and total lipid peroxides increased in all tissues of rats fed w-3 PUFA. The results presented here suggest that w-3 PUFA, by causing important metabolic changes in the immune tissues and lipid peroxidation may lead to changes of immune function.
Guimarães
A R
AR
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, São Paulo University, Brazil.
Curi
R
R
D000818:Animals; D002952:Citric Acid Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006019:Glycolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010427:Pentose Phosphate Pathway / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3