The Exorbital Lacrimal Gland Is 100 Times More Susceptible Than the Retina to Dietary Supplies in Long Chain Omega-6 and Omega 3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

International audience; Purpose:: The purpose of this study was to compare the susceptibility of the retina and the exorbital lacrimal gland to dietary supplies in long chain omega-3 (ω3) and omega-6 (ω6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs). Methods:: Male Wistar rats were fed for 3 months with a 5% lipid-diet containing either: 1) 10% of EicosaPentaenoic Acid (EPA, ω3) and 7% of DocosaHexaenoic Acid (DHA, ω3), 2) 10% of γ-Linolenic Acid (GLA, ω6), 3) 10% of EPA, 7% of DHA and 10% of GLA or 4) a balanced diet deprived from EPA, DHA and GLA. After three months of feeding, lipids were extracted from the retina and the exorbital lacrimal gland and fatty acid composition was determined by ga…