THE BIOGENESIS OF POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS AND THE INFLUENCE OF A DIET RICH IN EICOSAPENTAENOIC AND DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACIDS IN RATS WITH CONGENITAL HYPERTENSION

We have investigated the influence of an eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 2 0:5n-3) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) enriched diet (EPA 30) o n blood pressure isolated hepatocyte desaturase activities and fatty a cid composition in spontaneously hypertensive rats. We observed no sig nificant changes in blood pressure when Delta 6n-6, Delta 6n-3 and Del ta 5n-6 desaturase activities where partly inhibited after 9 and 11 we eks of EPA + DHA supplemented diet. The desaturated products of the n- 6 family were lowered in the EPA 30 group, when their respective subst rates were increased. EPA and DHA were higher in the experimental grou p. The EPA+DHA concentrate may be considered as a pharmacological acti ve nutrient on the essential fatty acid cascade, on the the fatty acid composition of hepatocytes, increasing the level of PG(3) precursor a nd decreasing the availability of substrate precursor of TXA(2).