AGE-RELATED-CHANGES IN LINOLEIC-ACID BIOCONVERSION BY ISOLATED HEPATOCYTES FROM SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE AND NORMOTENSIVE RATS

This study points out the hepatocyte interconversion of the linoleic a cid family during hypertension. Hepatocyte Delta 6 desaturase activity was higher in 1 month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats than in nor motensive controls. A similar tendency was observed in 6 month-old SHR . Delta 5 desaturase activity was higher only in 1 month-old spontaneo usly hypertensive rats as compared to controls. Desaturase activities were particularly high at the age of 6 months. The hepatocyte fatty ac id composition showed an impairment of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism in spontaneously hypertensive animals. Changes were greater in the young prehypertensive rats than in adults. A storage of n-3 lo ng chain fatty acids is remarkable in adult hypertensive rats, suggest ing an alteration in peroxisomal oxidation. Such modifications may be related to the prostaglandin precursors availability to peripheral tis sues such as kidney.