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Fatty Acid Composition of the Testes of Zinc-Deficient Rats: The Effect of Docosapentaenoic Acid Supplementation¹

Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Human Nutrition, Home Economics Building, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803

To determine if low levels of docosapentaenoic acid (22:56), observed in the testis lipids of zinc-deficient rats, are related to some of the symptoms of zinc deficiency in rat testes, four groups of rats were fed egg white- and corn oil (CO)-based semipurified diets. One group was fed a zinc-deficient diet (ZDCO) and a control group was pair-fed a zinc-supplemented diet (PFCO). Two additional groups were treated in an identical fashion, but their diets were supplemented with 1% testis lipid (TL) containing 10–12% 22:56 (ZDTL and PFTL). Testes weights and sperm counts were slightly higher in ZDTL compared to ZDCO, but these trends were not statistically significant. Testis zinc concentrations were significantly higher in both TL groups compared to the corresponding CO group. Dietary 22:56 appeared to be accumulated in liver lipids; however, there was no difference between TL and CO groups in 22:56 level in testes phospholipids or testes total lipids. These results indicate that 22:56 concentration and spermatogenesis in the testes of zinc-deficient rats do not appear to be affected by the dietary supplementation of 22:56 at the level used in this study.

KEY WORDS: • zinc deficiency • fatty acids • rat testes

¹ This work was supported by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Competitive Human Nutrition Grant (83-CRCR-1-1237) and the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.

² The work reported here was part of P. C.'s doctoral dissertation, submitted to Louisiana State University.

³ Requests for reprints should be sent to D. H. H. at the address shown above.

Manuscript received 2 April 1984.

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