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Effects of age and dietary essential fatty acids on desaturase activities and on fatty acid composition of liver microsomal phospholipids of adult rats

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Lipids

Abstract

The combined effects of age and dietary n−6 and n−3 fatty acids were studied in 3-, 6- and 9-month-old rats. At each age, two groups were fed diets containing 5% (w/w) of vegetable oils rich in either 18∶3n−6 (borage group) or 18∶3n−6 plus 18∶4n−3 (black currant group), for a period increasing with age. A control group was fed the essential fatty acids 18∶2n−6 and 18∶3n−3 only. For each group, Δ6, Δ5 and δ9 desaturase activities were measured in liver microsomes, and fatty acid composition was determined in microsomal phospholipids. Desaturase activity varied as a function of age and dietary lipids. Δ6 Desaturation of 18∶3n−3 was more sensitive to these factors while Δ6 desaturation of 18∶2n−6 and Δ9 desaturation were more dependent on season than the other two. Desaturase activity was influenced more by the black currant than by the borage diet, especially at 6 and 9 months of age. A large proportion of arachidonic acid was maintained in the microsomes independent of the diet. Changes in the fatty acid composition did not strictly reflect the differences in desaturase activities. The effects of the two factors (age and diet) on the activities of the desaturases are complex, suggesting that the enzymes are susceptible to other factors as well.

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Abbreviations

Bc:

black currant

Bg:

borage

C:

control

EFA:

essential fatty acids

HPLC:

high performance liquid chromatography

PUFA:

polyunsaturated fatty acid

SFA:

saturated fatty acid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Station de Recherches de Nutrition, INRA-CRJ, 78350, Jouy en Josas, France

    G. Pascal

  2. Laboratoire de Physiologie Animale et de la Nutrition, Faculté des Sciences Mirande, BP 138, 21004, Dijon Cedex, France

    L. Ulmann, J. P. Blond, C. Maniongui, J. P. Poisson, G. Durand & J. Bézard

Authors
  1. L. Ulmann
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  2. J. P. Blond
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  3. C. Maniongui
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  4. J. P. Poisson
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  5. G. Durand
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  6. J. Bézard
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  7. G. Pascal
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Ulmann, L., Blond, J.P., Maniongui, C. et al. Effects of age and dietary essential fatty acids on desaturase activities and on fatty acid composition of liver microsomal phospholipids of adult rats. Lipids 26, 127–133 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02544006

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02544006

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