The influence of trans-acids on desaturation and elongation of fatty acids in developing brain

trans-Monounsaturated acids account for up to 3% of the total octadecenoic acyl chains of human brain lipids. To investigate the influence of trans-acids on desaturation and chain elongation of fatty acids, in vitro and in vivo experiments with rat brain were performed. In the in vitro assays of Δ9 desaturation, Δ6 desaturation and chain elongation, trans,trans-dienoic acid was inhibitory, particularly to chain elongation. Slight differences between the inhibitory effects of trans-monoenoic acids and their cis-isomers were observed. In an in vivo model, unlabeled fatty acid (stearate, oleate, elaidate, linoleate, linoelaidate, arachidonate, or trans-monoene from margarine) was injected simultaneously with [1-¹⁴C] linoleic acid into the brains of suckling rats. Linoelaidate and oleate inhibited desaturation and elongation of linoleate, whereas elaidate, stearate and trans-monoene from margarine were stimulatory. While the demonstration of differences between cis and trans monoenic isomers required relatively high levels of the test acids, it appears that trans-acids can influence desaturation and elongation enzymes that lead to acyl chain modification in the central nervous system.