title: [Neurochemistry of lipids in the nervous system, fatty acids in particular. Neurotoxicologic prospects].
abstract: Each membrane in the brain is constituted of peculiar fatty acids which are related to its biological function. The nervous system is a highly lipid-rich tissue, essentially represented by fatty acids. The brain is able to synthetize both saturated and mono-unsaturated fatty acids independently of the chain length. The nature, the localization, the biochemical mechanisms and the regulation process of synthesis have been studied at the cellular and subcellular level. The fate of fatty acids, particularly their function of precursor in the synthesis of lipids, has been analysed. However the fact all the fatty acids are not synthetized in situ, strongly suggests that they have a seric origin. The seric fatty acids are eventually synthetized in the liver or can originate from diet. Malnutrition (pre- or post-natal) causes serious abnormalities in the brain fatty acids composition. The alimentary origin of poly-unsaturated fatty acids being absolute, the relative quantities of fatty acids of the w3 and w6 series must be precisely determined. The poly-unsaturated fatty acids control the membrane fluidity, and therefore their metabolic activities.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D009417:Nerve Tissue / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids
vernacular_title: Neurochimie des lipides du système nerveux, en particulier des acides gras. Perspectives neurotoxicologiques.