Spontaneous Diabetes in BB Rats: Evidence for Insulin Dependent Liver Microsomal Δ6 and Δ5 Desaturase Activities

Abstract
We studied linoleic acid Δ5 and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid Δ5 desaturations, and fatty acid composition, of liver microsomes in the insulin-dependent spontaneously diabetic adult female BB rat. These desaturations were defective along the normo- and hyper-glycemic period and restored during the hypoglycemic period which followed the insulin injection to the diabetic rats. The fatty acid composition of BB rats microsomes was not consistent with the desaturase activities at the different periods of glycemia, probably because other factors than desaturation impairments were involved in the evolution of fatty acid composition.