Diacylglycerol composition and metabolism in peripheral nerve

The content and molecular species composition of 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) in rat sciatic nerve was determined and compared with the molecular species profiles for glycerophospholipid classes in order to gain information concerning the metabolic pathways of DAG formation. The level of DAG in freshly dissected epineurium-free nerve (44 +/- 2 pmol/mg wet weight) was 10-40% of that in other tissues and cultured cells. The predominant DAG molecular species were 18:0/20:4 (30%) and 16:0/18:1 (17%). In comparison with phospholipid molecular species patterns, DAG was characterized by a substantial but lower proportion of the 18:0/20:4 species than was found in phosphoinositides, and a significant fraction of saturated species such as those found in phosphatidylcholine. In nerve from diabetic rats, both the content and arachidonoyl-containing molecular species of DAG were reduced. These species were also decreased in individual glycerophospholipids, except for phosphatidylinositol. The distribution of molecular species in phosphatidic acid (PA) did not resemble that of any other phospholipid. A large rise in DAG content occurred when nerve was incubated in vitro. Molecular species analysis indicated that phosphoinositides were the main source, especially during the initial period. This process was virtually abolished in a Ca(2+)-free medium and probably reflects a response to tissue injury. Evidence was obtained for the isomerization of DAG to 1,3-diacylglycerol during incubation. PA content and molecular species composition of incubated nerve did not change. However, inclusion of propranolol, a PA phosphatase inhibitor, caused a 40% accumulation of PA within 10 min, suggesting that formation of this phospholipid is continuous. These findings support the conclusion that DAG is principally derived from phosphoinositides by phospholipase C hydrolysis, but a minor fraction could be derived from phosphatidylcholine either by the action of phospholipase C or via phospholipase D and PA phosphatase. The metabolic origins of PA appear to be diverse.