Spontaneously hypertensive rats: eicosa-8,11,14-trienoic acid metabolism and arachidonic acid biosynthesis

Delta 9, delta 6 and delta 5 desaturation activity and the thioesterification of eicosa-8,11,14-trienoic acid (DGLA) were measured in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) compared to normotensive controls (WKY). SHR exhibited lower levels in the long-chain fatty acyl-CoA (LCFA) synthetase and in delta 6 and delta 5 desaturase activities in liver. The enzymatic activity changes were reflected on the fatty acid composition of liver microsomes. In testis, the thioesterification of DGLA and its conversion to arachidonic acid, (AA), at the delta 5 desaturation step were also depressed in SHR. We conclude that, in SHR, the alteration in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolism may influence the synthesis of AA-derived eicosanoids involved in the control of blood pressure regulation.