title: Age-related changes in delta 6 and delta 5 desaturase activities in rat liver microsomes.
abstract: Age-related changes in delta 6 desaturation of [1-14C]alpha-linolenic acid and [1-14C]linoleic acid and in delta 5 desaturation of [2-14C]dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid were studied in liver microsomes from Wistar male rats at various ages ranging from 1.5 to 24 mon. Desaturase activities were expressed both as specific activity of liver microsomes and as the capacity of whole liver to desaturate by taking into account the total amount of liver microsomal protein. delta 6 Desaturation of alpha-linolenic acid increased from 1.5 to 3 mon and then decreased linearly up to 24 mon to reach the same desaturation capacity of liver measured at 1.5 mon. The capacity of liver to desaturate linoleic acid increased up to 6 mon and then remained constant, whereas microsomal specific activity was equal at 1.5 and 24 mon of age. The capacity of liver to convert dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid to arachidonic acid by delta 5 desaturation decreased markedly from 1.5 to 3 mon. It then increased to reach, at 24 mon, the same level as that observed at 1.5 mon. Age-related changes in the fatty acid composition of liver microsomal phospholipids at the seven time points studied and of erythrocyte lipids at 1.5 and 24 mon were consistent with the variations in desaturation capacity of liver. In particular, arachidonic acid content in old rats was slightly higher than in young rats whereas contents in linoleic and docosahexaenoic acids varied little throughout the life span.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors: Unité de Recherche de Nutrition Cellulaire et Métabolique, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Maniongui
authors: J P
authors: JP
authors: Blond
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Ulmann
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Durand
authors: J P
authors: JP
authors: Poisson
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Bézard
mesh_terms: D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000032:analysis*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase; D008099:Liver; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D009929:Organ Size; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D010743:Phospholipids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase; D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid