title: Metabolic conversion of intra-amniotically-injected deuterium-labeled essential fatty acids by fetal rats following maternal n-3 fatty acid deficiency.
abstract: Accumulation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the fetal brain is accomplished predominantly via a highly selective flow of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA) and arachidonic acid (20:4n-6, AA) through the placenta. Little is known regarding the endogenous capability of the fetus to generate its own DHA and AA from lower homologues such as linolenic (18:3n-3, ALA) and linoleic (18:2n-6, LA) acids, respectively. Deuterium-labeled d5-ALA and d5-LA at millimolar concentrations were injected directly into the amniotic fluid in order to investigate maternal-independent metabolic conversion of the stable isotopes in brain and liver of the fetus near delivery. After 48h under adequate maternal diet, the levels of d5-ALA metabolites in the fetal brain and fetal liver were 45±2.2 pmol/mg and 86±4 pmol/mg of which 79% and 63.6% were comprised of d5-DHA. At this time point, incorporation of d5-LA metabolites was 103±5 pmol/mg and 772±46 pmol/mg for brain and liver, of which 50% and 30% were comprised of d5-AA. Following sustained maternal dietary ALA deficiency, the levels of total d5-ALA derived metabolites in the fetal brain and fetal liver were increased to 231 pmol/mg and 696 pmol/mg of which 71% and 26% were comprised of d5-DHA. From the time course and relative rates of d5-ALA precursor displacement by d5-DHA in cellular phosphoglycerides, it is concluded that the fetal rat brain can generate its own DHA from its d5-ALA precursors particularly under dietary stress.
authors: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IL 76100. Electronic address: ephraim.yavin@gmail.com.
authors: Ephraim
authors: E
authors: Yavin
authors: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors: Yu Hong
authors: YH
authors: Lin
authors: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IL 76100.
authors: Annette
authors: A
authors: Brand
authors: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA; DSM Nutritional Products.
authors: Norman
authors: N
authors: Salem
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003903:Deuterium; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007267:Injections; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D003903:Deuterium
keywords: Amniotic fluid; Brain; Docosahexaenoic acid; Fetal metabolism; Phospholipids; n-3 PUFA deficiency