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Effect of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids on hepatic microsomal lipid metabolism: a time course study

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Abstract

The present study examines the time dependent effects of n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on liver microsomal lipid metabolism in FVB mice fed a diet supplemented with a mixture of free fatty acids (mainly 18:3n-6 and 20:5n-3) at 25 mg/g diet. Significant changes in the fatty acid composition of total liver and microsomal lipids were observed after 7 days on the diets. Thereafter, some animals remained on the same diet while others were fed a diet supplemented with hydrogenated coconut oil (HCO). With the exception of 20:5n-3 which showed a slower recovery, establishment of the HCO pattern was rapid indicating that the diet-induced changes could be easily reversed. The unsaturation index, the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio and the microviscosity of the microsomal membranes were not affected by these dietary manipulations. Unsaturated fatty acid supplementation reduced the activity of Δ9 desaturase by 50%. Feeding the HCO diet to mice previously fed the EPA/GLA diet led to a progressive increase in Δ9 desaturase activity, reaching 80% of the day zero values after 14 days. The monoene content of hepatic total lipids reflected, in most cases, the changes in enzyme activity. This study shows that a low dose of a n-3 and n-6 free fatty acid mixture increases the quantities of members of the n-3 family, without loss of n-6 fatty acids in microsomal membranes and modifies the activity of Δ9 desaturase without altering the microsome physicochemical parameters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Efamol Research Institute, P. O. Box 818, B4N 4H8, Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada

    R. J. de Antueno, R. C. Cantrill, Y. -S. Huang, S. K. Raha, M. Elliot & D. F. Horrobin

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  1. R. J. de Antueno
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  2. R. C. Cantrill
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  3. Y. -S. Huang
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  4. S. K. Raha
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  5. M. Elliot
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  6. D. F. Horrobin
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de Antueno, R.J., Cantrill, R.C., Huang, Y.S. et al. Effect of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids on hepatic microsomal lipid metabolism: a time course study. Mol Cell Biochem 116, 153–161 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00299394

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00299394

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