Journal de bioanalyse et de biomédecine

On the Futile Existence of DHA, None of EPA and the Predominant Role of the Triacylglycerols (TGs) in the Post Mortem Human Brain: An LCMS Study with Evolutionary Implications

Abstract

Vincent van Ginneken, Aline van Meerveld, Elwin Verheij and Jan van der Greef

What is known about the brain is a scanty amount of information despite its importance in human evolution. Here we perform based on a holistic Systems Biology lipidomics approach an attempt describing the brain biochemical lipid composition based on the homogenate of a part (gyrus) of the neocortex of post mortem material of the “Dutch Brain Bank” with LCMS techniques. From evolutionary perception the occurrence of the “fish oils” in blood and/ or brain is interesting and their ability to pass the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). Both omega-3 “fish oil” Fatty Acids (FA) Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are found in rather high concentrations respectively 0.277% and 0.258% respectively in blood plasma but not in the brain. EPA is not found in grey or white neocortex matter so probably it cannot pass the BBB while this is the case for DHA giving values of respectively ≈0.00015% while Triacylglycerols (TGs) are the major constituent of the human brain with a mean value of the neocortex of ≈72%. We finally conclude the TGs have played a major role in the process of human brain growth and encephalization during course of evolution.