Bioavailability and spatial distribution of fatty acids in the rat retina after dietary omega-3 supplementation

• Published in: Journal of lipid research Vol. 61; no. 12; pp. 1733 - 1746
• Main Authors: Vidal, Elisa, Jun, Bokkyoo, Gordon, William C., Maire, Marie-Annick, Martine, Lucy, Grégoire, Stéphane, Khoury, Spiro, Cabaret, Stephanie, Berdeaux, Olivier, Acar, Niyazi, Bretillon, Lionel, Bazan, Nicolas G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2020; American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biological Availability; diet and dietary lipids; Dietary Supplements; docosahexaenoic acid; Docosahexaenoic Acids - administration & dosage; Docosahexaenoic Acids - metabolism; eicosapentaenoic acid; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - administration & dosage; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - metabolism; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - metabolism; Life Sciences; lipid biochemistry; lipid spatial organization; Male; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; omega-3 fatty acids; phosphatidylcholine; phospholipids; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Retina - metabolism; triglycerides; very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids; eicosapentaenoic acid; docosahexaenoic acid; very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids; diet and dietary lipids; phosphatidylcholine; omega-3 fatty acids; lipid biochemistry; phospholipids; triglycerides; lipid spatial organization; spatial organization; very long chain polyunsaturated; fatty acids; lipid
• ISSN: 0022-2275; 1539-7262; 1539-7262
• DOI: 10.1194/jlr.RA120001057

Spatial changes of FAs in the retina in response to different dietary n-3 formulations have never been explored, although a diet rich in EPA and DHA is recommended to protect the retina against the effects of aging. In this study, Wistar rats were fed for 8 weeks with balanced diet including either EPA-containing phospholipids (PLs), EPA-containing TGs, DHA-containing PLs, or DHA-containing TGs. Qualitative changes in FA composition of plasma, erythrocytes, and retina were evaluated by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector. Following the different dietary intakes, changes to the quantity and spatial organization of PC and PE species in retina were determined by LC coupled to MS/MS and MALDI coupled to MS imaging. The omega-3 content in the lipids of plasma and erythrocytes suggests that PLs as well as TGs are good omega-3 carriers for retina. However, a significant increase in DHA content in retina was observed, especially molecular species as di-DHA-containing PC and PE, as well as an increase in very long chain PUFAs (more than 28 carbons) following PL-EPA and TG-DHA diets only. All supplemented diets triggered spatial organization changes of DHA in the photoreceptor layer around the optic nerve. Taken together, these findings suggest that dietary omega-3 supplementation can modify the content of FAs in the rat retina.