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Effects of aging on the composition and metabolism of docosahexaenoate-containing lipids of retina

Journal Article · · Lipids; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02533988· OSTI ID:6216039
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The amount of docosahexaenoate (22:6n-3)-containing phospholipid species decreases with aging in the rat retina. Most lipids, but especially choline and serine glycerophospholipids, show a significant fall in 22:6n-3, which is not compensated by increases in other polyenoic fatty acids. The decrease not only affects 22:6 but also various very long chain n-3 hexaenoic fatty acids which, in phosphatidylcholine, have up to 36 carbon atoms, and which are probably synthesized by successive elongations of 22:6n-3. The in vitro incorporation of (2-/sup 3/H)glycerol into retinal lipids indicates that the de novo biosynthetic pathways are not impaired by aging. The incorporation of (1-/sup 14/C)docosahexaenoate is significantly stimulated into all lipids of aged retinas, but to the largest extent in those showing the largest decreases in 22:6, especially in choline glycerophospholipids. The results indicate that the decreased levels of 22:6 with aging are due not to an impaired activity of the enzymes involved in the synthesis and turnover of phospholipids but to a decreased availability of this polyene in the retina. It is suggested that this may stem from a defect in some of the enzymatic steps that lead to the synthesis of 22:6n-3, probably that catalyzed by delta 4 desaturase, the effect on longer hexaenes being secondary to the decreased synthesis of 22:6.
Research Organization:
Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahia Blanca, Argentina
OSTI ID:
6216039
Journal Information:
Lipids; (United States), Journal Name: Lipids; (United States) Vol. 22:4; ISSN LPDSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

550201 -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
550501* -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AGE DEPENDENCE
ALCOHOLS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
BODY
BODY AREAS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
ESTERS
EYES
FACE
GLYCEROL
HEAD
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIPIDS
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PHOSPHOLIPIDS
RATS
RETINA
RODENTS
SENSE ORGANS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES