[Effect of the streptozotocin diabetes upon the in vivo conversion of [I-14C] gamma-linolenic and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acids into arachidonic acid in rats (author's transl)].

Streptozotocin diabetic rats were administered the same tracer dose of either [1 14C] gamma-linolenic or [1 14C] dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid by stomach tube seven days after streptozotocin injection. They were killed 48 hours later and the radioactivity in individual fatty acids of the liver determined by radio-gas chromatography. Results were compared to those obtained in non diabetic rats similarly prepared. With either radioactive precursor, 14C radioactivity recovered in hepatic dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid was not significantly affected by the diabetic state. On the other hand, 14C radioactivity incorporated into arachidonic acid was considerably decreased in diabetic rats, compared with normal rats, when the weights of hepatic arachidonic acid were the same in the two groups of animals. These results suggest that streptozotocin diabetes causes a partial inhibition of the 5-desaturation of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid in rat liver in vivo.