Lysophosphatidylcholine as a preferred carrier form of docosahexaenoic acid to the brain

The metabolic fate of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was evaluated from its int ake as a nutrient in triglycerides and phosphatidylcholines to its uptake b y target tissues, especially the brain. Several approaches were used includ ing the kinetics and tissue distribution of ingested C-13-labeled DHA, the incorporation of radiolabeled DHA injected as its nonesterified form compar ed to the fatty acid esterified in lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), and th e capacity of the two latter forms to cross a reconstituted blood-brain bar rier (BBB) consisting of cocultures of brain-capillary endothelial cells an d astrocytes. The results obtained allow us to raise the hypothesis that ly soPC may represent a preferred physiological carrier of DHA to the brain.