Membrane docosahexaenoate is supplied to the developing brain and retina by the liver

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.86.8.2903· OSTI ID:5434098

Scott, B L; Bazan, N G ^[1]

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1. Louisiana State Univ. School of Medicine, New Orleans (USA)

Docosahexaenoic acid is concentrated in phospholipids of cellular membranes from brain and retina. Although linolenic acid is the major {omega}3 fatty acid of mouse dams' milk, 22:6 is the prevalent {omega}3 fatty acid in serum and tissues. Intraperitoneal injection of (1-{sup 14}C)18:3 into 3-day-old mouse pups resulted in liver and serum lipid labeling that was initially high, followed by a rapid decline. In contrast, labeling of brain and retinal lipids were initially low and increased with time. Labeled 22:6 first appeared in liver 2 hr after injection and later in brain and retina. The authors suggest that 22:6 synthesized from 18:3 by the liver is secreted into the bloodstream in lipoproteins, taken up by brain and retina, and incorporated into cell membranes. They hypothesize that the 22;6 requirements of membranes (e.g., during synaptogenesis, photoreceptor membrane biogenesis, or repair after ischemic injury or neurodegenerative disorders) are met by a signal that is sent by the appropriate tissues to the liver to evoke the secretion of 22:6-containing lipoproteins.

• OSTI ID: 5434098
• Journal Information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA), Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA) Vol. 86:8; ISSN 0027-8424; ISSN PNASA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BODY
BODY AREAS
BRAIN
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL MEMBRANES
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMISTRY
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
EYES
FACE
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
GLANDS
HEAD
HEXADECANOIC ACID
INJECTION
INTAKE
INTRAPERITONEAL INJECTION
ION EXCHANGE CHROMATOGRAPHY
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIPIDS
LIPOPROTEINS
LIVER
MAMMALS
MEMBRANES
MICE
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PROTEINS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RETINA
RODENTS
SENSE ORGANS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
VERTEBRATES