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The metabolism of dihomo‐γ‐linolenic acid in man
Author(s) -
Stone K. J.,
Willis A. L.,
Hart M.,
Kirtland S. J.,
Kernoff P. B. A.,
McNicol G. P.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
lipids
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.601
H-Index - 120
eISSN - 1558-9307
pISSN - 0024-4201
DOI - 10.1007/bf02533869
Subject(s) - prostacyclin , chemistry , phospholipid , metabolism , platelet , arachidonic acid , clinical chemistry , biochemistry , thromboxane , enzyme , metabolite , medicine , endocrinology , biology , membrane
Orally adminstered dihomo‐γ‐linolenic acid (DHLA) is well absorbed in man; it appears in blood after ca. 4 hr first as triglyceride ester and later as phospholipid. After sustained‐dosing, DHLA penetrated membrane pools and all phospholipid components but, depending on the dosage, reached a metabolic equilibrium in 4–16 days. Intact plateles do not accumulate arachidonate following DHLA administration, and species differences occur in the capacity of animals to metabolize DHLA to arachidonic acid (AA). The rat appears to be unusual in having a very active hepatic Δ 5 ‐desaturase enzyme system. Potentially antithrombotic changes in platelet function which followed the administration of DHLA to man were accompanied by a siginificant increase in the capacity of platelets to synthesize PGE 1 . Concomitant increases in PGE 2 synthesis do not apparently result from an increased production of AA and suggest that DHLA, or a DHLA metabolite, interferes with the metabolism of AA. Effects on thromboxane and prostacyclin synthesis are being studied.