Age-related changes in delta 6 and delta 5 desaturase activities in rat liver microsomes.

Article Details

Citation

Maniongui C, Blond JP, Ulmann L, Durand G, Poisson JP, Bezard J

Age-related changes in delta 6 and delta 5 desaturase activities in rat liver microsomes.

Lipids. 1993 Apr;28(4):291-7.

PubMed ID
8487621 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Age-related changes in delta 6 desaturation of [1-14C]alpha-linolenic acid and [1-14C]linoleic acid and in delta 5 desaturation of [2-14C]dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid were studied in liver microsomes from Wistar male rats at various ages ranging from 1.5 to 24 mon. Desaturase activities were expressed both as specific activity of liver microsomes and as the capacity of whole liver to desaturate by taking into account the total amount of liver microsomal protein. delta 6 Desaturation of alpha-linolenic acid increased from 1.5 to 3 mon and then decreased linearly up to 24 mon to reach the same desaturation capacity of liver measured at 1.5 mon. The capacity of liver to desaturate linoleic acid increased up to 6 mon and then remained constant, whereas microsomal specific activity was equal at 1.5 and 24 mon of age. The capacity of liver to convert dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid to arachidonic acid by delta 5 desaturation decreased markedly from 1.5 to 3 mon. It then increased to reach, at 24 mon, the same level as that observed at 1.5 mon. Age-related changes in the fatty acid composition of liver microsomal phospholipids at the seven time points studied and of erythrocyte lipids at 1.5 and 24 mon were consistent with the variations in desaturation capacity of liver. In particular, arachidonic acid content in old rats was slightly higher than in young rats whereas contents in linoleic and docosahexaenoic acids varied little throughout the life span.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets
DrugTargetKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
alpha-Linolenic acidFatty acid desaturase 1ProteinHumans
Yes
Ligand
Details