title: [Effect of the conditions of analysis and obtaining of the sample on the level of free fatty acids in the brain of the rat].
abstract: Free fatty acids (FFA) have been determined in the rat brain by gas-liquid chromatography after isolation by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel. The brains were removed under three experimental conditions, 1) after freezing in situ with liquid nitrogen, 2) after immersion of the animal in liquid nitrogen, 3) after decapitation, the brain being frozen 3 minutes later. The total FFA level was found to be equal respectively to 20.1, 33.1 and 168 micrograms/g. In any case, the main fatty acids were palmitic, stearic and oleic acid but there were marked increases in arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids following decapitation. A cause of error in the FFA determination originated in the use of commercial silica gel which contained significant amounts of fatty acids.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000032:analysis*; D005615:Freezing; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
vernacular_title: Influence des conditions d'analyse et de prélèvement sur la teneur en acides gras libres du cerveau de rat.