THE FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF THE TISSUES OF STREPTOZOTOCIN DIABETIC RATS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 32  (5) , 466-475
Abstract
Acute changes in the fatty acid composition of the tissues of streptozotocin-diabetic rats were studied. Streptozotocin-diabetes led to changes in the total lipids fatty acid spectrum in serum and in tissues (liver, adipose tissue, renal cortex, diaphragm). After only 7 days'' diabetes there was an increase in the precent proportion of saturated fatty acids and a decrease in the amount of polyene fatty acids in the serum and in all the above tissue of diabetic animals. Palmitic acid (16:0) participated in the increase in the proportion of saturated fatty acids in all the given tissues, while stearic acid (18:0) played a role in the increase in the renal cortex and the serum. Among the monoene acids, there was a crop in the proportion of palmitoleic acid (16:1) in the adipose tissue and serum and in the amount of oleic acid (18:1) in the renal cortex, liver and muscle. Linoleic acid (18:2) played a role in the decrease in the proportion of polyene acids in all the given tissues and the serum, while arachidonic acid (20:4) was involved in the drop in the renal cortex, liver and muscle. Diabetes leads to changes in the fatty acid composition of the renal cortex and muscle, as well as of the liver and adipose tissue. At present it is not yet clear whether there is an absolute decrease in the proportion of essential fatty acids, or whether diabetes is characterized by an increase in the amount of lipids in both serum and tissues.