Suppression of chick pancreatic xanthine dehydrogenase by unsaturated fatty acids

Abstract

A study of pancreatic xanthine dehydrogenase levels in chicks immediately after hatching has revealed that the sharp developmental increase normally occurring can be suppressed by maintenance on whole egg ( Fisher et al., 1967; Woodward and Fisher, 1967 ). Further work has shown that ether extracts of egg yolks are equally effective in supressing this developmental increase. Of the lipid components present, four have been found to affect the accumulation of pancreatic xanthine dehydrogenase: linolenic, linoleic, and oleic acids suppress and stearic acid enhances. It seems reasonable to believe that the suppressing activity of ether extracts of eggs is due to the presence of unsaturated fatty acids. The administration of specific fatty acids leads to increased concentrations of these materials in the lipids of the pancreas.