title: Gestational hyperlipidemia in the rat is characterized by accumulation of n - 6 and n - 3 fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid.
abstract: We have evaluated the relative and quantitative changes in long-chain fatty acids in maternal liver, serum, carcass and conceptus (fetuses plus placentae) during pregnancy in the rat, to ascertain whether previous concern over lower proportions of n - 6 and n - 3 fatty acids in maternal serum could be indicative of suboptimal n - 6 or n - 3 fatty acid status. Gestational hyperlipidemia was characterized by proportional decreases in linoleic, stearic and arachidonic acids but increases in palmitic and docosahexaenoic acids. However, the quantitative amount (microgram/ml) of linoleic, arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids in serum lipids actually increased 2-5-fold from mid-pregnancy to term. Compared to non-pregnant rats, gestational hyperlipidemia was also associated with a lower proportion but similar quantity of linoleic acid in maternal carcass and adipose stores. We conclude that gestational hyperlipidemia in the rat is characterized by a relative but not quantitative decrease in whole-body stores of n - 6 fatty acids and a marked proportional and quantitative increase in docosahexaenoic acid in maternal organs and in the conceptus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Z Y
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cunnane
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids