CHANGES IN THE FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF IMMUNE CELLS AND PLASMA BY INTRAVENOUS-INJECTION OF DIHOMO-GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID IN MICE

An injectable emulsion of 10% tridihomo-gamma-linolenoyl glycerol (DGL A-TG, 96% pure) was prepared, 0.5 ml of the emulsion was injected into tail veins of 6-week-old C3H/HeSlc mice, They were killed 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h after the injection, The fatty acid composition of the phosp holipid (PL) fraction of plasma, splenocytes and thymocytes was analys ed along with that of control mice, DGLA concentrations increased mark edly Ih after the injection in the plasma (from 2.2% to 13.2%) and spl enocyte (from 1.1% to 10.1%) PL fractions; they decreased rapidly ther eafter, On the other hand, DGLA concentrations in the thymocyte pi, fr action did not increase markedly, These data may be useful for plannin g animal experiments with DGLA emulsions, should these be developed as an experimental drug in the future.