Biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the developing brain. I. Metabolic transformations of intracranially administered 1-/sup 14/C linolenic acid. [Rats]

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1971 · Lipids; (United States)

OSTI ID:7256588

Dhopeshwarkar, G A; Subramanian, C

Thirteen-day old rats were given intracranial injections of 1-/sup 14/C linolenic acid (all cis 9, 12, 15 octadecatrienoic acid) and were sacrificed after 8 hr. Analysis of brain fatty acids showed that 16 : 0, 18 : 0, 18 : 1, 18 : 3, 20 : 3, 20 : 4, 20 : 5, 22 : 5 and 22 : 6 were labeled. The total fatty acid methyl esters were separated into classes according to degree of unsaturation on a AgNO/sub 3/ : SiO/sub 2/ impregnated plate. The bands were scraped off and the eluted fatty acds were first analyzed by radio-gas liquid chromatography and then subjected to reductive ozonolysis to determine double bond position. The saturated acids, 16 : 0 and 18 : 0, as well as the monounsaturated 18 : 1, must have been formed from radioactive acetate produced by ..beta.. oxidation of the injected linolenate. Among the polyunsaturated fatty acids, the triene fraction was characterized and identified as 18 : 3 ..omega..3 (..delta../sup 9/,/sup 12/,/sup 15/), the starting material, and 20 : 3 ..omega..3 (..delta../sup 11/,/sup 14/,/sup 17/); the tetraene fraction was identified as 20 : 4 ..omega..3 (..delta../sup 8/,/sup 11/,/sup 14/,/sup 17/); the pentaene fraction was identified as 20 : 5 ..omega..3 (..delta../sup 5/,/sup 8/,/sup 11/,/sup 14/,/sup 17/) and 22 : 5 ..omega..3 (..delta../sup 7/,/sup 10/,/sup 13/,/sup 16/,/sup 19/); and, finally, the hexaene fraction was shown to be 22 : 6 ..omega..3 (..delta../sup 4/,/sup 7/,/sup 10/,/sup 13/,/sup 16/,/sup 19/). The biosynthesis of these ..omega..3 family fatty acids in the brain in situ is discussed.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Los Angeles
• OSTI ID: 7256588
• Journal Information: Lipids; (United States), Vol. 11:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
BIOSYNTHESIS
METABOLISM
LINOLENIC ACID
BRAIN
CARBON 14
OXIDATION
RATS
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
CARBON ISOTOPES
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAMMALS
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEI
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RADIOISOTOPES
RODENTS
SYNTHESIS
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
550500* - Metabolism
550200 - Biochemistry