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Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 14, 296-305, May 1973
Copyright © 1973 by Lipid Research, Inc.

Fate of linoleic, arachidonic, and docosa-7,10,13,16-tetraenoic acids in rat testicles

Sixta Ayala , Graciela Gaspar , Rodolfo R. Brenner , Raúl O. Peluffo , and Wolf Kunau

Cátedra de Bioquímica, Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Calle 60 y 120, La Plata, Argentina, and Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Ruhr Universität, Bochum, Germany

A comparative study was made on the fate of linoleic, arachidonic, and docosa-7,10,13,16-tetraenoic acids in various subcellular fractions of liver and testis from rats of different ages. It was demonstrated that testicular microsomes can desaturate and elongate linoleic and arachidonic acids in a manner similar to liver microsomes, and that testicular mitochondria can convert docosa-7,10,13,16-tetraenoic acid to arachidonic acid. Testicular or liver microsomes actively desaturate linoleic acid to ggr-linolenic acid and eicosa-8,11,14-trienoic acid to arachidonic acid. However, it was impossible to measure in vitro any direct conversion of adrenic acid (22:4 [n - 6]) to docosapentaenoic acid (22:5 [n - 6]) by either liver or testicular microsomes. Docosa-7,10,13,16-tetraenoic acid is incorporated preferentially into the triglyceride fraction of total testis, mitochondria, and microsomes, while linoleic and arachidonic acids are incorporated more into phospholipids. The capacity of testicular microsomes, but not of liver microsomes, to synthesize polyunsaturated fatty acids declines with age. It is proposed that the synthesis of acids of the linoleic family proceeds in two stages, a rapid one in which arachidonic acid is made and a second, slower, one in which C22 and C24 acids are synthesized. In addition, there appears to be a cycle between microsomes and mitochondria that acts to conserve essential polyunsaturated C20 and C22 fatty acids by means of synthesis and partial degradation, respectively. This cycle would restrict the loss of essential fatty acids and might be of importance for the supply of arachidonic acid in testis under specific requirements and especially in older animals.

Supplementary key words eicosa-8,11,14-trienoic acid • docosa-4,7,10,13,16-pentaenoic acid • fatty acid synthesis • fatty acid elongation • desaturation

Submitted on April 3, 1972
Revised on September 19, 1972
Accepted on December 20, 1972


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