Modification of fatty acid composition in adipocyte plasma membranes by an oral treatment with a new antidiabetic agent, AS-6, in genetically obese diabetic mice, db/db

Male 12-week-old C57BL/KsJ db/db mice were treated for 1 week with a dietary admixture of an experimental antidiabetic agent, AS-6 (4-O-carboxymethylascochlorin, 0.1%). The fatty acid composition of the adipose tissue and its plasma membranes in the treated mice was compared with that in untreated db/db mice and their lean littermates. The results indicate that, when compared with the lean, the db/db adipose tissue and its plasma membrane are extremely rich in nonessential fatty acids, and AS-6 treatment modifies the fatty acyl composition only in the membranes in which 16:1 and 18:1 increase and C18 decreases.