| Summary: | The effect of epinephrine on the oxidative desaturation of fatty acids by liver microsomal preparations of rats has been studied. Administration of epinephrine (1 mg/kg body weight) produced a significant decrease in desaturation of [1-14C]=linoleic acid to γ-linolenic acid and of [1-14C]α-linolenic acid to actadeca-6,9,12,15-tetraenoic acid 12 hr after the infection. Lower doses produced a lesser effect on the Δ6-desaturation activity. Epinephrine administration modified the Vmax of linoleic acid desaturation but not the Km. There was also a slight increase in palmityl desaturation activity. The effect of epinephrine on Δ6-desaturation activity was postulated to be mediated through an enhancement of the intracellular cyclic AMP levels that lead to an increase of a glucose metabolite. This metabolite would inhibit Δ6-desaturation activity.
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