title: [Vitamin E: protection of membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids against radical peroxidation in the course of cerebral aging, particularly in cerebral capillaries and microvessels].
abstract: Nerve tissue (as well as capillaries and cerebral microvessels) has a very high concentration in polyunsaturated fatty acids belonging to linoleic and alpha-linolenic series. Nerve tissue also requires large amounts of oxygen. Radical peroxidation of the polyunsaturated fatty acids represents a serious risk to the biochemistry and physiology of the membranes: it can be a cause of cellular death. During aging, the capillaries and cerebral microvessels undergo extensive modifications at the level of the polyunsaturated fatty acids: for example, the concentration of arachidonic acid decreases by half. In brain in general, vitamin E is very well protected: after oxidation, it is rapidly regenerated; it seems to undergo only slight degradation. In case of dietary deficiency, the brain loses much less vitamin E, and at a slower rate, than other non-nerve tissue. During aging, there is a relation between the content in vitamin E and the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids of the linoleic series, but not of the alpha-linolenic series. In addition, vitamin E deficiency also leads to a decrease in the enzymatic activities that protect against peroxidation of fatty acids.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U. 26, Hôpital Fernand Widal, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bourre
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005609:Free Radicals; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D014810:Vitamin E
vernacular_title: La vitamine E: protection des acides gras polyéthyléniques membranaires contre les péroxydations radicalaires au cours du vieillissement cérébral, en particulier dans les capillaires et microvaisseaux cérébraux.