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SummaryIncorporation and metabolism of y-linolenic acid (GLA) in both rat hepatocytes and Hep G2 cells were compared to those of oleic (OA), linoleic (LA), a-linolenic (LLA), and dihomo-y-linolenic (DGLA) acids. The incorporation of GLA into both types of cells was higher than LLA and DGLA, but lower than OA and LA. It was efficiently converted into DGLA in both types of cells and increased the concentration of DGLA. LLA was converted to a small amount of C20:4 (n-3) only in Hep G2 cells. Incubation with LA, GLA, LLA, and DGLA did not increase the concentration of arachidonic acid (AA) in both types of cells. LA. GLA, LLA, and their metabolites were incorporated into phosphatidylcholine, but only GLA and its metabolite, DGLA, were also incorporated into phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylinositol. The coexistence of GLA and LLA during their catabolism diminished the amounts of respective metabolite in Hep G2 cells. The presence of GLA inhibited completely the formation of C20:4(n-3) from LLA. The results indicate that GLA is more effective in raising the ratio of DGLA/AA. Also, polyunsaturated fatty acids of n-3 and n-6 series have competitively catabolized in both types of hepatocytes.

SummaryThe metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapenta enoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was examined in HepG2 cells, a human hepatoma cell line, and rat hepatocytes. The AA level in HepG2 cells was lower than in rat hepatocytes and incorporation of AA into HepG2 was also smaller than into rat hepatocytes. Both cells could not increase the level of cellular DHA by the addition of exogenous 22:5 (n-3); whereas, rat hepatocytes, but not HepG2 cells, increased the levels of AA from 20:3 (n-6) and EPA from 20:4 (n-3). In both cells, retroconversion of AA to 20:3 (n-6) occurred, but EPA was not retro converted to 20:4 (n-3). These results suggested that the levels of AA and DHA in both types of cells, were regulated more severely than EPA and that the activity of fatty acid desaturation might be different between n-6 and n-3 families.

Effects of sesamin and curcumin on ‡™5-desaturation and chain elongation of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) were studied in rat primary cultured hepatocytes. When sesamin was added to culture medium containing 20:4 (n-3), rat hepatocytes after 24h of incubation Y. FUJIYAMA-FUJIWARA et al. sesamin into diets decreased the plasma level of cholesterol in rats (7) and changed the fatty acid composition in liver phospholipids probably by the decrease of ‡™5-desaturase activity (8). Also it has been reported that curcumin, a yellow pigment of turmeric used in curry powder, inhibited the ‡™5-desaturase of M. alpina (9) and increased the content of ƒÁ-linolenic acid in this mould oil. These results suggest that some food constituents may affect the metabolism of

Synthetic alpha-tocopherol (alpha-Toc) contains equal amounts of eight different stereoisomers, and the four stereoisomers with the 2R configuration are generally more active than their corresponding 2S-isomers. We investigated the biodiscrimination of alpha-Toc stereoisomers during intestinal absorption in situ and in vitro. Intestinal absorption of alpha-Toc stereoisomers was examined in situ in vitamin E-deficient rats with cannulated thoracic ducts. We found that the ratios of alpha-Toc stereoisomers in lymph of the all-rac-alpha-Toc group were the same as the administered alpha-Toc stereoisomers, and 2R-isomers occupied approximately 50% of absorbed alpha-Toc. The uptake of alpha-Toc stereoisomers also was measured using Caco-2 cells cultured on filter membranes. The concentration of RRR-alpha-Toc in Caco-2 cells was not significantly different from that of SRR-alpha-Toc. Therefore, the discrimination of alpha-Toc stereoisomers does not occur during absorption in small intestine, suggesting the liver as source for the biodiscrimination.