Plasma non-esterified docosahexaenoic acid is the major pool supplying the brain.
Despite being critical for normal brain function, the pools that supply docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to the brain are not agreed upon. Using multiple kinetic models in free-living adult rats, we first demonstrate that DHA uptake from the plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) pool predicts brain uptake of DHA upon oral administration, which enters the plasma NEFA pool as well as multiple plasma esterified pools. The rate of DHA loss by the brain is similar to the uptake from the plasma NEFA pool. Furthermore, upon acute iv administration, although more radiolabeled lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)-DHA enters the brain than NEFA-DHA, this is due to the longer plasma half-life and exposure to the brain. Direct comparison of the uptake rate of LPC-DHA and NEFA-DHA demonstrates that uptake of NEFA-DHA into the brain is 10-fold greater than LPC-DHA. In conclusion, plasma NEFA-DHA is the major plasma pool supplying the brain.
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, FitzGerald Building, 150 College St., Room 306, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 3E2.
Chuck T
CT
Chen
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, FitzGerald Building, 150 College St., Room 306, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 3E2.
Alex P
AP
Kitson
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, FitzGerald Building, 150 College St., Room 306, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 3E2.
Kathryn E
KE
Hopperton
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, FitzGerald Building, 150 College St., Room 306, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 3E2.
Anthony F
AF
Domenichiello
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, FitzGerald Building, 150 College St., Room 306, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 3E2.
Marc-Olivier
MO
Trépanier
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, FitzGerald Building, 150 College St., Room 306, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 3E2.
Lauren E
LE
Lin
Program in Physiology and Experimental Medicine, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 0A4.
Leonardo
L
Ermini
Program in Physiology and Experimental Medicine, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 0A4.
Martin
M
Post
School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK.
Frank
F
Thies
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, FitzGerald Building, 150 College St., Room 306, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 3E2.
Richard P
RP
Bazinet
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008954:Models, Biological; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats
D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids