Rabbit photoreceptor outer segments contain high levels of docosapentaenoic acid

Docosapentaenoic acid (22:5 omega 6), a minor constituent (less than 4%) of photoreceptor outer segment membranes in all vertebrate species examined to date, comprises 23% of the fatty acids in total lipids from rabbit outer segment membranes. This fatty acid is a significant constituent of each of the three major phospholipid classes in these membranes. The levels of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 omega 3), the major polyunsaturated fatty acid of most other vertebrate outer segments, was 20%. The sum of 22:5 omega 6 and 22:6 omega 3 in rabbit outer segment membrane lipids is similar to the amount of 22:6 omega 3 usually found in membranes from other vertebrate species.