期刊名称：Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology
印刷版ISSN：0301-4800
电子版ISSN：1881-7742
出版年度：1995
卷号：41
期号：2
页码：217-225
DOI：10.3177/jnsv.41.217
出版社：Center for Academic Publications Japan
摘要：Sesamin is known as a specific inhibitor of Δ -desaturation, the conversion from dihoo-γ-linolenic acid (20: 3( n -6)) to arachidonic acid (20:4( n -6)). In the previous paper, we reported that sesamin inhibited Δ -desaturation of n -6 fatty acids in rat hepatocytes but not that of n -3 fatty acids, from 20: 4( n -3) to 20: 5( n -3). Then, we studied the effects of sesamin on Δ -desaturation of n -6 and n -3 fatty acids in vivo. Rats were fed two types of diets containing sesamin (0.5% w/w) for 4 weeks as follows: in experiment 1 (Exp. 1) γ-linolenic acid-rich diet and in experiment 2 (Exp. 2) a-linolenic acid-rich diet. The fatty acid composi-tion of liver lipids was compared to those of control groups without sesamin. In both Exps. 1 and 2, sesamin increased the liver weight and phospholipid contents in liver. In Exp. 2, sesamin increased n -6 fatty acids and decreased n -3 fatty acids even though the diet was rich in n -3 fatty acids. Sesamin enhanced the composition ratio of 20: 3( n -6) in both Exps. 1 and 2. Decrease of Δ -desaturation index of n -6 fatty acid, the ratio of 20:4( n -6)/20: 3( n -6), by the administration of sesamin suggested that sesamin inhibited the Δ -desaturation of n -6 fatty acids in the liver. On the contrary, the Δ -desaturation index of n - 3 fatty acids, the ratio of 20: 5( n -3) to 18: 3( n -3), was increased by sesamin administration in the liver of rats fed a-linolenic acid-rich diet (Exp. 2). These results sug-gested that sesamin inhibited the Δ -desaturation of n -6 fatty acids but not that of n -3 fatty acids in vivo similarly to results from rat hepatocytes.
