Possible role of the choroid plexus in the supply of brain tissue with polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Delta-6 desaturase was measured in rat brain microvessels and choroid plexus by incubation in the presence of radioactive linoleic acid. Under our conditions, in 21-day-old animals, delta-6 desaturase was not detected in brain microvessels. In contrast, it was present in choroid plexus (about 21 pmol/min per mg protein). In comparison, the activity in brain was much lower (about 1 pmol/min per mg protein) and higher in liver (about 55 pmol/min per mg protein). Interestingly, during development the activity in choroid plexus peaked at day 6 after birth and declined slightly thereafter. The pattern of incorporation of linoleic acid radioactivity was not the same in choroid plexus and microvessels. These results show that delta-6 desaturase was not detected in brain microvessels but was present in choroid plexus.
Bourre
J M
JM
INSERM U 26, Hôpital Fernand Widal, Paris, France.
Dinh
L
L
Boithias
C
C
Dumont
O
O
Piciotti
M
M
Cunnane
S
S
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000378:metabolism; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002831:Choroid Plexus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase; D051381:Rats
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase