Prenatal protein depletion and Δ9, Δ6 and Δ5 desaturases in the rat

• Autores: Mercuri, Osvaldo Francisco; De Tomás, María Elena; Itarte de Scasso, Herminia Josefa
• Año de publicación: 1979
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: Ciencias Médicas
• Institución: Universidad Nacional de La Plata

Pregnant rats were kept throughout gestation on a control diet (i.e., 25% protein), on a low protein diet (i.e., 5% protein) or on a fat-free diet. At 20-21 days of gestation, the rate of 9-, 6-, and 5-desaturation was measured, using microsomes from maternal and fetal livers and placenta microsomes. The effect of protein malnutrition was more evident upon Δ6-desaturase activity from maternal liver, while a less severe reduction in the activities of Δ9- and Δ5-desaturases was observed. No measurable activities of Δ5- and Δ6-desaturases were observed in fetal liver and placenta, while a low activity of Δ9-desaturase was detected in both tissues from the three groups under study. We concluded that Δ6-desaturation is greatly affected by maternal protein deprivation, and this fact could affect the normal supply of polyunsaturated fatty acids for the normal fetus growth and tissue development.
Facultad de Ciencias Médicas