Abstract
The anorectic lipid oleoylethanolamide and the orexigenic lipid anandamide both belong to the group of N-acylethanolamines that are generated by the enzyme N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine-hydrolyzing phospholipase D. The levels of the two bioactive lipids were investigated in rat intestines after 24 h of starvation as well as after 1 and 4 h of re-feeding. Total levels of precursor phospholipids and N-acylethanolamines were decreased upon food-deprivation whereas the level of the anandamide precursor molecule was significantly increased. The level of 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol was unchanged as was the activity of N-acyltransferase, N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine-hydrolyzing phospholipase D, and fatty acid amide hydrolase upon starvation and re-feeding. It is concluded that remodeling of the amide-linked fatty acids of N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine is responsible for the opposite effects on levels of anandamide and oleoylethanolamide in intestines of food-deprived rats and not an alternative biochemical route for anandamide synthesis. Furthermore, linoleoylethanolamide, which accounted for more than 50 mol% of the endogenous pool of N-acylethanolamines, was found not to have the same inhibitory effect on food intake, as did oleoylethanolamide following oral administration.
Original language | English |
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Journal | BBA General Subjects |
Volume | 1761 |
Issue number | 2 |
Pages (from-to) | 143-50; discussion 141-2 |
ISSN | 0304-4165 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Feb 2006 |
Keywords
- Animals
- Arachidonic Acids
- Eating
- Endocannabinoids
- Food Deprivation
- Intestines
- Male
- Oleic Acids
- Phospholipids
- Polyunsaturated Alkamides
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Former Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences