The sexual maturation occurred by the changes of steroid hormones was known to sex-dependently and/or agedependently regulate the lipid metabolism in various animal species. Our current study demonstrates that lipid and its functional fatty acids can be changed depending on the status of sexual maturation. Of the functional fatty acids, γ- linolenic acid (GLA; 18:3n-6) is an important factor for maintaining human health. The purpose of our study was to investigate the level of GLA in mice with different stages of sexual maturation. To this end, the longissimus muscle (LM) of immature (3-week-old) and mature (7-week-old) female mice was analysed for the fatty acid composition by gas chromatography. Furthermore, both gene and protein level of Δ6 desaturase (FADS2) which is involved in GLA metabolism by real time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Mature females showed greater (P<0.05) serum 17β -estradiol (E2) level and LM GLA contents than immature group. The mRNA and protein levels of FADS2, which converts precursor linoleic acid into GLA, were higher (P<0.05) in mature female mice than in immature mice. In conclusion, these results show that sexual maturation of female mice induces GLA and FADS2 contents in LM.

This study examined the effects of different levels of evening primrose oil(EPO) on the accumulation of γ-fatty acids in broiler meat. Six hundred one-day-old male chicks (Ross strain) from commercial broilers were divided randomly into 6 groups × 4 repeat pens. The broilers were fed experimental diets containing 4.0% tallow(control), 0.5% EPO, 0.7% mixed oil(EPO 70 : soy bean oil 30), 1.5% EPO, 3.0% EPO or 4.0% EPO for 35 days. There was a significant difference in body weight gain between the control and treatment groups except for the 0.5% EPO group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in the percentage of thigh and breast weight against the carcass weight between control and treatment groups except for the 0.5% EPO group in the thigh and 0.5% EPO and 4.0% EPO groups in the breast weight (p<0.05). The saturated fatty acid levels of the skin and breast muscle lipid of the broilers fed diets containing EPO were significantly lower than that of the control group (p<0.05), while the level of unsaturated fatty acid was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). The γ-fatty acid(GLA, gamma-linolenic acid, 18:3n-6) level was particularly higher in the chicken meat lipids from the broilers fed EPO than in the control group (p< 0.05). This shows that feeding EPO to chicks can produce novel functional broiler meat that is enriched in gamma-linolenic acid.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary oils on the levels of the γ-linolenic acid in chicken meat lipids. Three hundred ten five, 1-d old, male, Ross strain, broiler chicks were fed for 35 d to compare diets containing evening primrose oil(EPO) and hemp seed oil(HO) to a control diet. Fatty acid composition of lipid from chicken skin, thigh and breast muscle were determined at the end of the trial. The level of γ-linolenic acid of lipids from chicken meat fed diets containing EPO or HO was significantly higher than that of the control group(p<0.05). The level of γ-linolenic acid of lipids from chicken skin was highest in the group, which had been fed the EPO 0.85%, followed in order by EPO 0.7%, 0.5%, EPO mixed oil, HO and HO mixed oil. There was a significant difference in the level of γ-linolenic acid of chicken skin between the control and treatment groups(p<0.05). The level of γ-linolenic acid of lipids from chicken thigh muscle was also similar to skin, and significantly higher than that of the control group(p<0.05). The level of γ-linolenic acid of lipids from chicken breast muscle was highest in the group, which had been fed the EPO 0.5%, followed in order by EPO 0.7%, 0.85%, HO 0.5% and HO mixed oil. There was a significant difference in the level of γ-linolenic acid of chicken breast muscle between the control and treatment groups(p<0.05).

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary oils on the levels of the γ-linolenic acid in chicken meat lipids. Three hundred ten five, 1-d old, male, Ross strain, broiler chicks were fed for 35 d to compare diets containing evening primrose oil(EPO) and hemp seed oil(HO) to a control diet. Fatty acid composition of lipid from chicken skin, thigh and breast muscle were determined at the end of the trial. The level of γ-linolenic acid of lipids from chicken meat fed diets containing EPO or HO was significantly higher than that of the control group(p〈0.05). The level of γ-linolenic acid of lipids from chicken skin was highest in the group, which had been fed the EPO 0.85%, followed in order by EPO 0.7%, 0.5%, EPO mixed oil, HO and HO mixed oil. There was a significant difference in the level of γ-linolenic acid of chicken skin between the control and treatment groups(p〈0.05). The level of γ-linolenic acid of lipids from chicken thigh muscle was also similar to skin, and significantly higher than that of the control group(p〈0.05). The level of γ-linolenic acid of lipids from chicken breast muscle was highest in the group, which had been fed the EPO 0.5%, followed in order by EPO 0.7%, 0.85%, HO 0.5% and HO mixed oil. There was a significant difference in the level of γ-linolenic acid of chicken breast muscle between the control and treatment groups(p〈0.05).

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of dietary γ-linolenic acid on plasma lipid metabolism and anti thrombotic activity in male Sprague Dwaley Strain rats. Rats weighing an average of 100~120g were fed a experimental diets containing 5% lard (saturated fatty acids), corn oil(linoleic acid), evening promise oil(EPO, 9% γ-linolenic acid) or borage oil(BO, 24% γ-linolenic acid) for 3Odays, respectively. Though there were no significant difference in the food intake among the groups, the body weight gain of the BO group was significantly lower than that of other group. The spleen weight of the lard group was significantly lower than that of other group. The bleeding time of the BO group was significantly longer than that of other group. The blood clotting time was significantly tended to long in EPO and BO groups compared with lard group. The plasma triacylglyceride and total cholesterol concentration were high in order of lard, com oil, EPO and BO, groups and there were significant differences among the groups. The plasma HDL-C concentrations were high in order of BO, EPO, com oil and lard groups and there were significant differences among the groups. The plasma LDL-C concentrations were significantly the highest in lard group, but the lowest in BO group. These data indicate that γ-linolenic acid has a antithrombotic activity, and decrease the plasma triacylglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-C concentrations in rats.

100개의 토양시료로부터 120종의 곰팡이를 분리하여 이 중 GLA 생성능이 가장 우수한 균주를 선발하여 Fusarium 속으로 동정하였다. Fusarium 속이 생산하는 균체량과 지방질 함량은 각각 620㎎/100㎖, 63.5㎎/100㎖ 이었으며 전체 지방산 중 GLA가 차지하는 함량은 약 10.2% 이었다.

종실의 유분함량이 많아 유료작물로 전용이 가능한 대표적인 섬유작물인 대마 종실의 지방산조성의 분석을 통하여 감마리놀렌산 함유여부 및 함량과와 품종간 차이를 조사하였다. 45 수집종의 대마 종실에는 감마리놀렌산의 경우 평균 2.1% 함유되어 있었으며 이중 IH4 등 7 품종이 3.1%~3.8%로 높으면서 경장이 31~122 cm로 작아 종실용 품종 육성재료로 유망시 되었다. 도입된 대마의 지방산 조성 변이에서 감마리놀렌산 비율 범위 및 변이계수는 각각 0.8%~3.8%, 42.9%로 품종간 변이가 가장 컸으나 리놀레산은 각각 51.4%~61.8%, 4.2%로 가장 적었다 개화일수와 경장간에는 고도의 정의 상관이었고, 개화일수와 알파리놀렌산 비율 및 경장과 감마리놀렌산 비율간에는 부의 상관이었으며 환각성분인 THC와 다른 형질들 간에는 유의적인 상관이 없었다. 팔미트산과 감마리놀렌산 비율간에는 부의상관, 올렌산과 알파리놀렌산 그리고 리놀레산과 알파리놀렌산은 고도의 부의 상관을 나타내었다. 감마리놀렌산 함량이 높은 도입종들은 대체로 수집지가 중앙러시아 등 유럽이었고 개화일수가 29~44일로 짧았다.

우리나라에서 생산되고 있는 60여종의 약용식물의 지방산 조성을 조사하여 식물체의 부위 와 종류에 따른 지방산 조성의 특성을 관찰한 결과 아래와 같은 결과얻었다. 1. 달맞이꽃종자, 컴프리잎, 지치뿌리에서 각각 총지방산함량의 9.1, 3,5, 7,2%의 GLA가 검출되었으며 달맞이 꽃종자가 컴프리잎이나 지치뿌리보다 GLA의 절대량이 많았다. 2. 들깨종자, 참깨종자, 호박종자등의 지방산이 양(量)과 불포화도면에서 좋은 자원임이 확인되었다. 3. 식물체의 잎, 줄기, 뿌리에서의 지방산조성은 종자의 경우에 비하여 18 : 3의 분포 비율이 현저히 높게 나타났으며 18 : 0의 비율은 비교적 같게 나타났다.