The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
Volume 21, Issue 3 , Pages 180-187, March 2010

Gender affects liver desaturase expression in a rat model of n−3 fatty acid repletion

  • Audrey Extier

      Affiliations

    • Unit of Lipid Nutrition and Regulation of Brain Functions, NuRéLiCe, UR909, INRA, F 78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. INRA-NuRéLiCe, Domaine de Vilvert, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France. Tel.: +33 1 34 65 23 14; fax: +33 1 34 65 23 11.
  • ,
  • Bénédicte Langelier

      Affiliations

    • Unit of Lipid Nutrition and Regulation of Brain Functions, NuRéLiCe, UR909, INRA, F 78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France
  • ,
  • Marie-Hélène Perruchot

      Affiliations

    • Unit of Lipid Nutrition and Regulation of Brain Functions, NuRéLiCe, UR909, INRA, F 78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France
  • ,
  • Philippe Guesnet

      Affiliations

    • Unit of Lipid Nutrition and Regulation of Brain Functions, NuRéLiCe, UR909, INRA, F 78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France
  • ,
  • Paul P. Van Veldhoven

      Affiliations

    • Molecular Cell Biology, K.U. Leuven-Campus Gasthuisberg, LIPIT, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium
  • ,
  • Monique Lavialle

      Affiliations

    • Unit of Lipid Nutrition and Regulation of Brain Functions, NuRéLiCe, UR909, INRA, F 78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France
  • ,
  • Jean-Marc Alessandri

      Affiliations

    • Unit of Lipid Nutrition and Regulation of Brain Functions, NuRéLiCe, UR909, INRA, F 78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France

Received 8 July 2008; received in revised form 22 September 2008; accepted 16 October 2008. published online 21 January 2009.

Abstract 

Dietary n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are major components of cell membranes and have beneficial effects on human health. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n−3) is the most biologically important n−3 PUFA and can be synthesized from its dietary essential precursor, α-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3n−3). Gender differences in the efficiency of DHA bioconversion have been reported, but underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. We compared the capacity for DHA synthesis from ALA and the expression of related enzymes in the liver and cerebral cortex between male and female rats. Wistar rats, born with a low-DHA status, were supplied with a suboptimal amount of ALA from weaning to 8 weeks of age. Fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography, the mRNA expression of different genes involved in PUFA metabolism was determined by RT-PCR (low-density array) and the expression of proteins was determined by Western blot analysis. At 8 weeks, DHA content was higher (+20 to +40%) in each phospholipid class of female livers compared to male livers. The “Δ4,” Δ5 and Δ6 desaturation indexes were 1.2–3 times higher in females than in males. The mRNA expression of Δ5- and Δ6-desaturase genes was 3.8 and 2.5 times greater, respectively, and the Δ5-desaturase protein was higher in female livers (+50%). No gender difference was observed in the cerebral cortex. We conclude that female rats replete their DHA status more readily than males, probably due to a higher expression of liver desaturases. Our results support the hypothesis on hormonal regulation of PUFA metabolism, which should be taken into account for specific nutritional recommendations.

Abbreviations: AA, arachidonic acid [20:4n−6], ALA, α-linolenic acid [18:3n−3], ACOX1, acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1, DHA, docosahexaenoic acid [22:6n−3], n−3 DPA, n−3 docosapentaenoic acid [22:5n−3], n−6 DPA, n−6 docosapentaenoic acid [22:5n−6], EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid [20:5n−3], EPG, ethanolamine phosphoglycerolipid, FABP, fatty acid binding protein, FADS1, fatty acid desaturase 1, FADS2, fatty acid desaturase 2, LA, linoleic acid [18:2n−6], MFP1, multifunctional protein 1, MFP2, multifunctional protein 2, PPAR, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, PC, phosphatidylcholine, PS, phosphatidylserine, PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acids, RIN, RNA integrity number, RQ, relative quantities, RXR, retinoid X receptor, SREBP1c, sterol-regulatory element-binding protein 1c, TLDA, TaqMan Low-Density Array

Keywords: n−3 PUFA, Gender, Desaturases, Docosahexaenoic acid, Liver, Rats

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 Disclosure statement: Audrey Extier, Bénédicte Langelier, Marie-Hélène Perruchot, Philippe Guesnet, Paul P. Van Veldhoven, Monique Lavialle and Jean-Marc Alessandri declare no conflict of interest.

PII: S0955-2863(08)00244-1

doi:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2008.10.008

The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
Volume 21, Issue 3 , Pages 180-187, March 2010