Role of dietary gamma-linolenic acid in liver lipid metabolism in Japanese quail.
1. The importance of linoleic acid (18:2n-6) itself and of dietary gamma-linolenic acid (18:3n-6) as essential fatty acids (EFA) in Japanese quail were investigated with regard to liver lipid metabolism. Experimental diets were made by adding of 0, 2 or 4 g gamma-linolenic acid/kg, or 20 g linoleic acid/kg to an n-6 EFA-free diet. From 3 to 6 weeks of age, birds were fed equal amounts of experimental diets. 2. Liver weight and lipid content in birds fed the 2 and 4 g gamma-linolenic acid/kg diet were significantly lower than those in birds fed the gamma-linolenic acid-free diet. However, no significant difference was observed between the gamma-linolenic acid- and linoleic acid-supplemented diets. 3. In birds fed the 4 g gamma-linolenic acid/kg diet, the proportion of arachidonic acid in the liver lipid was similar to that in quail fed the 20 g linoleic acid/kg diet, implying a conversion rate from linoleic acid to gamma-linolenic acid of approximately 20% of whole body content. 4. It is concluded that linoleic acid itself is not essential for Japanese quail and that at least 2 g/kg of gamma-linolenic acid in the diet completely prevents liver enlargement accompanied by lipid accumulation.
Murai
A
A
Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Nagoya University, Japan.
Furuse
M
M
Okumura
J
J
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D003370:Coturnix; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D005260:Female; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D009929:Organ Size; D012450:Safflower Oil; D015430:Weight Gain; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid
D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008055:Lipids; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid; D012450:Safflower Oil; D019787:Linoleic Acid