title: Fatty acid desaturation in lung: inhibition by unsaturated fatty acids.
abstract: The activity of the enzyme system involved in desaturation of palmitic and stearic acid has been examined in lungs of rats fed fat-free diets supplemented either with 4% safflower oil (controls) or 4% tripalmitin (essential fatty acid (EFA) deficient) both in vivo and in vitro in lung slices. Desaturation, as measured by appearance of 14C-labeled monounsaturated fatty acid in pulmonary total lipid and phospholipids, was significantly greater in vivo and in vitro in lung tissue from EFA-deficient rats. In vitro peincubation of lung slices for 1 to 4 hr with 1 mM oleic, linoleic, or linolenic acid reduced the extent of desaturation of [1-14C]-stearic acid significantly in both dietary groups, but the effect was greater in EFA-deficient tissues. The effect of linoleic acid was always greater than that of oleic acid. Preincubation with palmitic acid and 16,16-dimethyl PGE2 was without effect. Thus: 1) EFA deficiency has been shown to enhance desaturation of palmitic and stearic acid in lung; 2) in vitro addition of linoleic or linolenic acid inhibited desaturation significantly; and 3) oleic acid was inhibitory but to a lesser and more variable extent. Palmitic acid was not inhibitory.
mesh_terms: D015064:16,16-Dimethylprostaglandin E2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000172:deficiency; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D008042:Linolenic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D009829:Oleic Acids; D010169:Palmitic Acids; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; D015064:16,16-Dimethylprostaglandin E2