Involvement of (n-6) essential fatty acids and prostaglandins in liver lipid accumulation in Japanese quail.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the involvement of (n-6) essential fatty acids, such as linoleic acid [18:2(n-6)] or gamma-linolenic acid [18:3(n-6)], and of prostaglandins on liver lipid accumulation in Japanese quail.


METHODS
Effects of graded amounts of aspirin, which inhibits prostaglandin synthesis, on liver weight were determined in experiment 1. Experiment 2 was designed to clarify the effect of dietary essential fatty acid sources and inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis on the liver fat and fatty acid profile.


METHODS
Female Japanese quail.


METHODS
In experiment 1, from 1 to 3 weeks of age, birds were fed ad libitum the essential fatty acids-free or linoleic acid-adequate (2%) diets with graded amounts of aspirin (0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4%). In experiment 2, from 1 to 4 weeks of age, birds were fed the same amount of essential fatty acids-free, linoleic acid-adequate, or gamma-linolenic acid (0.4%) diets with (0.2%) or without aspirin.


RESULTS
In experiment 1, in groups given the essential fatty acids-free diet, liver weight increased with an increase in dietary aspirin concentration. In experiment 2, gamma-linolenic acid completely prevented liver triacylglycerol and cholesterol accumulation induced by the essential fatty acids-free diet. Aspirin treatment significantly lowered plasma prostaglandin F2 alpha concentration, but did not affect liver lipid concentrations. In groups fed the essential fatty acids-free diets, however, aspirin treatment increased liver weight and liver triacylglycerol concentration by 20 and 40%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
gamma-Linolenic acid or its metabolites, but not linoleic acid itself, are important factors in reducing fatty liver in Japanese quail with the essential fatty acids-deficient condition.
Murai
A
A
Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, School of Agriculture, Nagoya University, Japan.
Furuse
M
M
Okumura
J
J
D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology; D001835:Body Weight; D003370:Coturnix / Q000378:metabolism*; D004041:Dietary Fats; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000097:blood; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000172:deficiency; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005260:Female; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009929:Organ Size; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D011453:Prostaglandins; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D015237:Dinoprost; D001241:Aspirin