The metabolism and distribution of docosapentaenoic acid (n-6) in the liver and testis of growing rats.
To investigate the metabolism and distribution of docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-6, DPA) in the liver and testis of growing rats, 22:5n-6 was administered to their dams. Newborn rats with a low hepatic arachidonic acid (20:4n-6, AA) level were generated by administrating a diet rich in docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA) but n-6 fatty acid (FA) free to pregnant dams. After parturition, 22:5n-6 or linoleic acid (18:2n-6, LA) was administered with a high level of 22:6n-3 to the dams until weaning. At weaning, the hepatic 20:4n-6 level was significantly highest in the DPA-DHA but not LA-DHA diet-fed animals. The hepatic delta-6 desaturase (D6D) mRNA abundance was significantly lower in both the LA-DHA and DPA-DHA diet-fed animals, connoted with the 20:4n-6 content recovered by 22:5n-6 that did not involve D6D and supporting the occurrence of retroconversion in the liver of the growing rats. The low D6D level in the 3-week-old testis was not in proportion to the elevated 22:5n-6 level, implying that early testicular 22:5n-6 accumulation might require supply from the circulation system.
Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan.
Phyllis S Y
PS
Tam
Rumi
R
Sawada
Yan
Y
Cui
Akiyo
A
Matsumoto
Yoko
Y
Fujiwara
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D009929:Organ Size; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase; C026219:docosapentaenoic acid