Biomaterial Database

Schizophrenia: the role of abnormal essential fatty acid and prostaglandin metabolism. 1983

D F Horrobin, and Y S Huang

There are two series of essential fatty acids (EFAs), the n6 series starting with linoleic acid and the n3 series starting with alpha-linolenic acid. Members of both series are important in brain structure and can act as precursors for prostaglandin formation. Normally the desaturase enzymes which metabolize EFAs have a higher affinity for the n3 series. It is proposed that in schizophrenia mutant desaturases are present which prefer the n6 series. This change would account for the low levels of linoleic acid, dihomogammalinolenic acid and 1 series prostaglandins which have been reported in schizophrenia. It would also explain the high levels of arachidonic and alpha-linolenic acids and the recently described therapeutic response to alpha-linolenic acid. The abnormal pattern in n6 series EFAs in schizophrenics can almost exactly be imitated in rats by depriving them of n3 EFAs. This is the nearest experimental equivalent to an inability to metabolize EFAs because of an enzyme defect. Heterozygotes carrying such a mutant gene would have an advantage over either form of homozygote since they would be better able to cope with variations in dietary intake of n3 and n6 EFAs.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008041	Linoleic Acids	Eighteen-carbon essential fatty acids that contain two double bonds.	Acids, Linoleic
D008042	Linolenic Acids	Eighteen-carbon essential fatty acids that contain three double bonds.
D009154	Mutation	Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations.	Mutations
D011453	Prostaglandins	A group of compounds derived from unsaturated 20-carbon fatty acids, primarily arachidonic acid, via the cyclooxygenase pathway. They are extremely potent mediators of a diverse group of physiological processes.	Prostaglandin,Prostanoid,Prostanoids
D004041	Dietary Fats	Fats present in food, especially in animal products such as meat, meat products, butter, ghee. They are present in lower amounts in nuts, seeds, and avocados.	Fats, Dietary,Dietary Fat,Fat, Dietary
D005228	Fatty Acids, Essential	Long chain organic acid molecules that must be obtained from the diet. Examples are LINOLEIC ACIDS and LINOLENIC ACIDS.	Acids, Essential Fatty,Essential Fatty Acids
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012559	Schizophrenia	A severe emotional disorder of psychotic depth characteristically marked by a retreat from reality with delusion formation, HALLUCINATIONS, emotional disharmony, and regressive behavior.	Dementia Praecox,Schizophrenic Disorders,Disorder, Schizophrenic,Disorders, Schizophrenic,Schizophrenias,Schizophrenic Disorder
D044943	Fatty Acid Desaturases	A family of enzymes that catalyze the stereoselective, regioselective, or chemoselective syn-dehydrogenation reactions. They function by a mechanism that is linked directly to reduction of molecular OXYGEN.	Acyl CoA Desaturase,Enoyl CoA Reductase,Fatty Acid Desaturase,Fatty Acid Desaturating Enzymes,Acyl CoA Desaturases,Enoyl CoA Reductases,Acid Desaturase, Fatty,CoA Desaturase, Acyl,CoA Reductase, Enoyl,Desaturase, Acyl CoA,Desaturase, Fatty Acid,Desaturases, Fatty Acid,Reductase, Enoyl CoA,Reductases, Enoyl CoA