Effect of eicosa-5, 8, 11, 14-tetraynoic acid on fatty acid composition of selected organs in the rat.

Eicosa-5, 8, 11, 14-tetraynoic acid or archidonic acid or no supplement (controls) was given orally to rats maintained on a fat free diet and the fatty acid composition of total lipids of several organs determined. No changes were noted in the total fatty acid concentrations of the organs examined in the various groups. A decrease in the amount of arachidonic acid, 22:4omega6 and 22:5omega 6 (as percent of total fatty acids), and an increase in the amount of 20:3omega6 and linoleate were observed in total lipids of several organs. In the group receiving the arachidonate supplement, there was less linoleate and 20:3omega 6 and more archidonate than in the controls. Both eicosa-5, 8, 11, 14-tetraynoic acid and arachidonate supplements resulted in a decrease in 20:3omega9 in most organs studied. Generally, the most marked changes were seen in liver but, of the other organs examined (heart, kidney, testis, brain, and adrenals), only the adrenals failed to show any significant differences between the controls and each of the two supplemented groups. Although the experimental conditions preclude conclusive interpretation of the changes observed, it is suggested that eicosa-5, 8, 11, 14-tetraynoic acid was effective in inhibiting the conversion of linoleate to archidonate and the conversion of arachidonate to 22:4 and 22:5.