Table 6.

Spleen cell membrane phospholipid fatty acids from omega-6-fed and control acute EAE at day 21

	Fatty acids	Controls	Omega-6-fed
18:2n-6	(Linoleic)	3·7 ± 0·75	4·7 ± 0·9
18:3n-6	(Gamma-linolenic)	0·6 ± 0·24	0·4 ± 0·02
20:2n-6		0·5 ± 0·15	0·6 ± 0·12
20:3n-6	(Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid)	0·79 ± 0·07	1·8 ± 0·5**
20:4n-6	(Arachidonic)	6·3 ± 1·4	10·4 ± 1·7*
20:3n-6/20:4n-6		0·12 ± 0·02	0·18 ± 0·01*

Spleen cell membrane fatty acid analysis in omega-6 and saline-fed myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) peptide-induced (residues 92–106) acute EAE in SJL mice at day 21. Results are expressed as mean percent composition ±s.d., n = 4 animals per group. Omega-6-fed animals were gavaged daily with 250–300 μl ultra-refined Borago officinalis from day 7 onwards. Significance of difference

^*P < 0·05

^**P < 0·02 compared with control EAE group.