title: The influence of trans-acids on desaturation and elongation of fatty acids in developing brain.
abstract: trans-Monounsaturated acids account for up to 3% of the total octadecenoic acyl chains of human brain lipids. To investigate the influence of trans-acids on desaturation and chain elongation of fatty acids, in vitro and in vivo experiments with rat brain were performed. In the in vitro assays of delta 9 desaturation, delta 6 desaturation and chain elongation, trans,trans-dienoic acid was inhibitory, particularly to chain elongation. Slight differences between the inhibitory effects of trans-monoenoic acids and their cis-isomers were observed. In an in vivo model, unlabeled fatty acid (stearate, oleate, elaidate, linoleate, linoelaidate, arachidonate, or trans-monoene from margarine) was injected simultaneously with [1-14C] linoleic acid into the brains of suckling rats. Linoelaidate and oleate inhibited desaturation and elongation of linoleate, whereas elaidate, stearate and trans-monoene from margarine were stimulatory. While the demonstration of differences between cis and trans monenic isomers required relatively high levels of the test acids, it appears that trans-acids can influence desaturation and elongation enzymes that lead to acyl chain modification in the central nervous system.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008042:Linolenic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D009829:Oleic Acids; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases