The Metabolic Syndrome of ω3-Depleted Rats. X: Comprehensive View

The present report complements recent publications on the occurrence of a metabolic syndrome in rats deprived of a dietary supply of long-chain polyunsaturated � 3 fatty acids and on the attempt to correct the resulting metabolic and hormonal defects by exposure of the � 3-depleted rats to a diet enriched with flaxseed oil rich in � -linolenic acid (C18:3� 3). Emphasis is placed (i) on the much slower time course for the depletion in docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6� 3) and accumulation of docosapentaenoic acid (C22:5� 6) and their reversal during dietary deprivation and replenishment of � 3 fatty acids in brain phospholipids, as opposed to liver or intestinal phospholipids, (ii) on the role of circulating phos- pholipids in the transfer of C22:6� 3, synthesized from C18:3� 3 in hepatocytes, from the liver to the brain in the rats de- prived of a dietary supply of � 3 fatty acids, and (iii) on the unfavorable effect of an increase in the total lipid content of the diet from 5 to 10% (w/w) in the perspective of the correction of liver steatosis and visceral obesity in the � 3-depleted rats.