n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-induced changes in the molecular species composition of diradylglycerol in murine peritoneal macrophages remain stable during incubation ex vivo.

Three-to four-week-old C57BL/6 mice were maintained for four weeks on diets in which the 10% lipid component was the ethyl esters of either corn oil or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA). Incubation of macrophages ex vivo for 14 h, a normal incubation time used for macrophage studies, in the absence of fetal calf serum, did not diminish the extent of incorporation of 20:5n-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid) and 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid) moieties into membrane phospholipids and into diradylglycerol (DG) relative to that after a very abbreviated incubation time. We conclude that studies examining the effects of dietary n-3 PUFA on DG formation and related physiological effects in macrophages can be performed after a normal ex vivo incubation of at least 14 h without experiencing a significant loss of incorporated n 3 PUFA.