PHOSPHOLIPID CLASS DISTRIBUTION AND FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION IN LIVER AND PLASMA FROM UNTREATED AND DIAZEPAM TREATED RATS

The present study investigated the effect of diazepam on fatty acids b ound to phospholipids and their class distribution in the plasma and l iver of male Wistar rats. The rats were divided into two groups with 1 2 animals in each. Both groups were fed anutritionally adequate pellet ed diet (18 g/d/rat). The control group (C) had free access to water. The experimental group drank diazepam in a dose of 10 mg/kg/day. Long- term consumption of diazepam (DZP) (180 days) resulted in strikingly s imilar alterations in the content of phospholipids and fatty acid comp osition in the liver. There was a significant decrease in 20:3 (n-6) a nd 22:5 (n-3) in liver total phospholipids in diazepam treated rats. D iazepam treatment led to a statistically significant decrease in the c ontent of 20:3 (n-6), 22:5 (n-3), 22:6 (n-3), and total PUFA in the to tal and phosphatidylcholine fraction of plasma phospholipids.