Dietary (n-3) fatty acids alter fatty acid composition and prostaglandin synthesis in rat testis.
The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of linolenic acid [18:3(n-3)], compared with the long-chain (n-3) fatty acids in fish oil, in suppressing arachidonic acid [20:4(n-6)] metabolism in rat testis. Six groups of rats were fed three levels of 18:3(n-3) or fish oil, and the fatty acid composition of testis parenchyma lipids and prostaglandin (PG) I2 synthesis by tunica were determined after 12 wk. Levels of docosapentaenoic acid [22:5(n-6)], the major 22-carbon fatty acid in rat testis lipids, were significantly depressed compared with the control by both linolenic acid and fish oil; however, testis weights were not affected significantly. Arachidonic acid levels also were depressed significantly in testis lipids by dietary (n-3) fatty acids, but the decreases were not as pronounced as those observed in other tissues. The synthesis of PGI2 was significantly reduced compared with the control by (n-3) fatty acid feeding, but there were no differences among the experimental groups. Both 18:3(n-3) and the longer-chain (n-3) fatty acids from fish oil reduce levels of 20:4(n-6) and 22:5(n-6) in testis lipids and the capacity of the tunica to synthesize PGI2, but these fatty acids seem to cause no defect in testicular development as indicated by weight.
Chanmugam
P S
PS
Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70808.
Boudreau
M D
MD
Hwang
D H
DH
D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008042:Linolenic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005395:Fish Oils; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D011464:Epoprostenol