title: Effects of sesamin on the fatty acid composition of the liver of rats fed N-6 and N-3 fatty acid-rich diet.
abstract: Sesamin is known as a specific inhibitor of delta 5-desaturation, the conversion from dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (20:3(n=6)) to arachidonic acid (20:4(n-6)). In the previous paper, we reported that sesamin inhibited delta 5-desaturation of n-6 fatty acids in rat hepatocytes but not that of n-3 fatty acids, from 20:4(n-3) to 20:5(n-3). Then, we studied the effects of sesamin on delta 5-desaturation of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in vivo. Rats were fed two types of diets containing sesamin (0.5% w/w) for 4 weeks as follows: in experiment 1 (Exp. 1) gamma-linolenic acid-rich diet and in experiment 2 (Exp. 2) alpha-linolenic acid-rich diet. The fatty acid composition of liver lipids was compared to those of control groups without sesamin. In both Exps. 1 and 2, sesamin increased the liver weight and phospholipid contents in liver. In Exp. 2, sesamin increased n-6 fatty acids and decreased n-3 fatty acids even though the diet was rich in n-3 fatty acids. Sesamin enhanced the composition ratio of 20:3(n-6) in both Exps. 1 and 2. Decrease of delta 5-desaturation index of n-6 fatty acid, the ratio of 20:4(n-6)/20:3(n-6), by the administration of sesamin suggested that sesamin inhibited the delta 5-desaturation of n-6 fatty acids in the liver. On the contrary, the delta 5-desaturation index of n-3 fatty acids, the ratio of 20:5(n-3) to 18:3(n-3), was increased by sesamin administration in the liver of rats fed alpha-linolenic acid-rich diet (Exp. 2).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Science for Human Life, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujiyama-Fujiwara
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Umeda-Sawada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuzuyama
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Igarashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004149:Dioxoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017705:Lignans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012715:Sesame Oil; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004149:Dioxoles; D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D017705:Lignans; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D012715:Sesame Oil; C054125:sesamin