Relationship between lipids in plasma and skin secretions of neonatal calf with particular reference to linoleic acid

A study has been made on the lipid composition of the skin secretions and plasma of the neonatal calf. A significant proportion of the skin surface lipids was comprised of triglycerides. Saturated fatty acids comprised the major proportion of the fatty acids of the skin surface triglycerides at birth. Immediately after birth, the pooportion of the saturated fatty acids decreased, and there was a concomittant increase in the proportion of 18∶1. Some 3–4 weeks after birth, the proportion of 18∶2 Δcis-9, cis-12 in the skin surface triglycerides increased to ca. 14%, and there was a decrease in the proportion of 18∶1. The 18∶2 was shown to be confined almost entirely to the 2 position of the triglycerides. During the first 5 weeks after birth, the concentrations of the cholesteryl esters and phospholipids in the plasma increased markedly and were accompanied by a rapid increase in the proportion of 18∶2 within these 2 fractions. The results are discussed in relation to the known role of 18∶2 in the metabolism of biological systems.     

Polar lipids ofMacrophomina phaseolina

Macrophomina phaseolina was grown on a defined medium at three different carbon/nitrogen ratios. The lipids of the mycelia and the sclerotia were extracted; fractionated into polarity groups; and separated by thin layer, column, and gas liquid chromatographies. Sclerotia contained higher levels of neutral lipids and lower amounts of polar lipids than mycelia. The neutral lipid content of sclerotia increased, up to 77% of total lipids, and phospholipids decreased as carbon/nitrogen ratio increased from 10 to 320. The glycolipid content was not altered significantly by changes in carbon/nitrogen ratios. Although cardiolipin could not be detected in sclerotial polar lipids, both sclerotia and mycelia contained similar phospholipid profiles with major quantitative differences. Phosphatidic acid and phosphatidyl glycerol were major components of sclerotia, whereas phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl inositol were the major phosphatides of mycelia. Phosphatidyl choline was present in both mycelia and sclerotia. The fatty acid distribution did not show any particular pattern of saturation or unsaturation due to differences in carbon/nitrogen ratio. However, mycelial lipids tended to contain C24∶1, C18∶3, and C22∶1 as major fatty acids, whereas the major fatty acids in sclerotial lipids were C18∶2, C18∶1, C22∶1, C20∶0, and C16∶1. Saturated fatty acids were present in lesser concentrations.     

胆固醇对非酯化脂肪酸介导的犊牛肝细胞脂质沉积影响的GC/MS分析

目的研究胆固醇(cholesterol,CHOL)在非酯化脂肪酸(non-esterified fatty acid,NEFA)介导的犊牛肝细胞脂质沉积中的作用,揭示CHOL对能量负平衡奶牛肝脂代谢的调控机制。方法体外分离培养犊牛肝细胞,添加NEFA培养12 h,模拟能量负平衡状态下的高NEFA环境构建脂肪沉积模型,依据细胞生化指标的变化特征确定添加CHOL的最适浓度及时间。在细胞更换培养基后的不同时间点添加NEFA和CHOL,将细胞分为空白组、游离脂肪酸组、胆固醇组和酸+醇组,应用气相色谱-质谱法(gas chromatography-mass spectrometer,GC/MS)检测,获得组间的差异代谢物,再进行生物信息学分析。结果空白组与胆固醇组相比,有包括丙氨酸、缬氨酸、甘氨酸、蛋氨酸在内的28个差异代谢物,其中有15个下调,13个上调;游离脂肪酸组和酸+醇组相比,共有包括苏氨酸、腺嘌呤、瓜氨酸在内的17个差异代谢物,其中水杨酸胆甾烷-3,5,6-三醇下调,其余16个上调,这些差异代谢物主要参与糖异生与类固醇合成的代谢通路。结论CHOL通过上调丙氨酸、缬氨酸和苏氨酸来激活糖异生途径,缓解能量负平衡时脂质代谢所产生的沉积,还通过上调羊毛甾醇来激活类固醇途径,加强细胞吸收血浆中CHOL的能力。     

Effect of nutritional status on the fatty acid composition of rat liver and cultured hepatocytes

The lipid concentration and fatty acid composition of the whole liver and of cultured hepatocytes isolated from the livers of rats fed ad libitum (fed), fasted for 24 hr (fasted), or fasted for 48 hr and then refed a fat-free, high carbohydrate diet for 48 hr (refed) was studied. Hepatocytes were maintained as monolayer cultures in serum-free, lipid-free media and their fatty acid composition was analyzed at 3, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hr. The livers of fed animals, as well as their hepatocytes, contained less total lipid than those from animals on either of the other dietary regimes. Livers of fasted animals had three times the amount of lipid found in the livers of fed animals, and the livers of refed animals contained five times the amount of lipid as the livers of fed animals (all based on mg lipid/g wet weight of liver). The fatty acid composition of hepatocytes after 3 hr of culturing was very similar to that of fresh liver when compared in each of the dietary regimes. However, while the fatty acid compositions of livers and hepatocytes from fed and fasted animals were similar, the pattern in liver of refed animals was quite distinct from that of the fed animals. In the fed and fasted animals palmitic acid (16∶0), stearic acid (18∶0), oleic acid (18∶1[n-9]), linoleic acid (18∶2[n-6]) and arachidonic acid (20∶4[n-6]) were the major fatty acids of the liver; in refed animals 16∶0, palmitoleic acid (16∶1[n-7]), 18∶0, 18∶1(n-9) andcis-vaccenic acid (the n-7 isomer of oleic acid) were the major fatty acids. During maintenance in culture the 18∶1(n-9) content of the hepatocytes increased in cells from livers of animals on all three dietary regimes. The polyunsaturated fatty acid content was similar in fresh livers and isolated hepatocytes in all samples when compared on the basis of μg fatty acid/mg of hepatocyte or liver protein. It was also found that the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of hepatocytes was remarkedly stable with time of culture when the cells were incubated in serum-free, lipid-free medium. Thus, isolated hepatocytes maintained in serum-free medium appear to be a possible system for the evaluation of the effects of prior nutritional status on fatty acid metabolism in the whole animal, not subject to hormonal and other somatic influences which often complicate the interpretation of such nutritional studies.     

Metabolism of 1-14C linolenic acid in developing brain: II. Incorporation of radioactivity from 1-14C linolenate into brain lipids

Metabolism of 1-¹⁴C linolenic acid was studied in growing animals by injecting the tracer intraperitoneally into 12–13 day old suckling rats and following up the results by sacrificing groups of animals at 8 hr, 48 hr, 15 day, and 45 day intervals. In the first 15 days, there was a greater decrease in radioactivity of brain total lipids compared to the later period, although the earlier age period is characterized by lipid deposition rather than breakdown. Since the 18∶3 ω3 family of fatty acids occurs largely in the brain total phosphatidyl ethanolamine fraction, we expected that, in the initial period, total phosphatidyl ethanolamine would be the most highly radioactive component. However, results showed that 8 hr after the tracer phosphatidyl choline had the highest specific radioactivity. When the total phosphatidyl ethanolamine fraction was resolved into diacyl and alk-1-enyl species, it was found that radioactivity was not distributed evenly between the two species. There was a progressive increase in radioactivity of the alkenyl and a decrease in the diacyl species. Forty-eight hr after the tracer, however, the radioactivity of phosphatidyl ethanolamine increased and at 45 days remained slightly higher than phosphatidyl choline. Radioactivity of cholesterol, a result of synthesis from acetate undoubtedly derived from the breakdown of tracer linolenate, was also high 48 hr after tracer and remained high until 45 days.     

Serum lipids in spontaneously hypertensive rats and sprague-dawley rats fed menhaden oil

Dietary n-3 fatty acids, abundant in fish oil, exert a variety of effects that attenuate cardiovascular disease. In this study, we assessed the effect of fish oil (menhaden oil) on the serum lipid profile in hypertensive and normotensive rats. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) or Sprague-Dawley rats (SD) were fed either standard powdered diet (L-485), or L-485+5% menhaden oil (MO) or L-485+5% corn oil (CO) from weaning through eight months of age. Systolic blood pressure (BP) was periodically determined on SHR. Serum lipid profiles were performed at eight months on sample taken from the exposed hearts of anesthetized, fasted rats. SHR, compared with SD (diets combined) had significantly lower triaclyglycerols (TG), higher cholesterol (CHOL), higher high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL CHOL), higher low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL CHOL), and a higher LDL:HDL ratio. Comparison among diets (strains combined) revealed that rats fed MO had the lowest values for TG, CHOL, LDL and LDL:HDL; HDL did no vary with diet. SHR were less responsive to diet-induced changes than were SD; no decrease in TG, LDL or LDL:HDL was observed in SHR, nor was degree of hypertension altered in SHR by the MO or CO diet. In summary, MO is more effective than CO in shifting the lipid profile of rats toward one that is less atherogenic. However, the SD rat is more susceptible to diet-induced lipid modification than is the SHR.     

Lipid from yeast fermentation: Effects of cultural conditions on lipid production and its characteristics of rhodotorula glutinis

To produce lipids from microbial origins, Rhodotorula glutinis (syn. Rhodotorula gracilis) NRRL Y-1091 was cultured in batch and continuous systems under nitrogen- and carbon-limited conditions. The lipid production patterns are shown to be different from each other depending on growing conditions. In continuous cultures under nitrogen-limited conditions, the maximum lipid accumulation was observed at the lowest dilution rate examined, giving the efficiency of substrate conversion of 16.4 g lipid per 100 g glucose consumed. As the dilution rate increased, cell biomass, lipid content, lipid productivity and lipid yield decreased. In carbon-limited continuous cultures, cell biomass decreased with increasing dilution rate, but lipid content remained almost constant. Neutral lipid portions in nitrogen-limited cultured yeast cells decreased as the dilution rate increased, and glyco- and phospholipid portions showed the reverse trend. Major components in the neutral lipid portions in yeast cells are triglyceride, free fatty acid, steryl ester and sterol. Phosphatidylserine was the predominant phospholipid in yeast cells. The dilution rate also affected the fatty acid composition of all lipid portions; polyunsaturated fatty acids increased and saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids decreased with increasing dilution rates. The degrees of unsaturation of each lipid class and total lipids were also increased by increasing the dilution rate.     

Net increase of lipid fatty acid in ehrlich ascites carcinoma during growth

The net rate of total lipid fatty acid accumulation was measured in cells and extracellular fluid of Ehrlich ascites carcinomas grown in mice. Between 5 and 12 days after ip tumor inoculation, the tumor volume increased from 2.5 to 17.7 ml and the tumor cell volume increased from 1.5 to 3.9 ml. Total lipid fatty acids increased from 60 to 160 μmol during this same period. Thus the amount of fatty acid present increased at a rate of ca. 10 nmol/min for the tumor (cells and fluid). This rate is much smaller than the rate of fatty acid influx into Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in vivo. The major lipid fatty acids in both whole tumor and extracellular fluid were 16∶0, 18∶0, 18∶1 and 18∶2; no major changes in fatty acid composition were observed during growth.     

Lipids of cultured hepatoma cells: II. Effect of media lipids on cellular phospholipids

Minimal deviation hepatoma cells were cultured in a modified Swim's 77 medium supplemented with decreasing amounts of serum, lipid-free serum, and lipid-free serum containing added palmitic or linoleic acids. Cellular phospholipids were extracted and the class distribution determined quantitatively. The fatty acid composition of each phospholipid class was determined, and the percentages from cells grown on each of the various media were compared. Cellular phospholipid class and fatty acid compositions differed from media compositions, indicating that intact serum phospholipids are not incorporated into cellular structures. Phosphatidylcholine percentages decreased as the media serum and lipid levels decreased, while phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine percentages increased. Sphingomyelin of cells grown in medium containing added linoleic acids contained a high level of a 24∶2 acid. All classes, except sphingomyelin, contained elevated levels of 18∶1 acid and decreased levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, relative to normal rat liver. Cells cultured on lipid-free medium did not contain increased concentrations of 20∶3 acid, suggesting that this hepatoma cell cannot desaturate monoenoic acids. Phosphoglycerides of cells, grown on lipid-free medium, had the highest monoene fatty acid concentration, whereas those cells grown on media containing added linoleic acid had the lowest concentrations, suggesting that linoleate may inhibit or regulate monoenoic acid biosynthesis in this cell. These mass data also demonstrate that monoenoic fatty acid biosynthesis in this cultured hepatoma cell responds to dietary changes.     

Accumulation of neutral lipids by human skin fibroblasts: Differential effects of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids

The accumulation of neutral lipids by human skin fibroblasts grown in medium supplemented with fatty acids has been investigated. GM-10 cells incorporated exogenous fatty acids into both phospholipids and neutral lipids. More [¹⁴C] oleate, linoleate, or linolenate was incorporated into triacylglycerol than was [¹⁴C] palmitate or stearate. Supplementation of medium containing delipidized serum with unsaturated fatty acids resulted in far more stimulation of [¹⁴C] glycerol incorporation into triacylglycerol than did supplementation with saturated fatty acids. Palmitate- and stearate-fed cells incorporated sizable amounts of [¹⁴C] fatty acids and [¹⁴C] glycerol into diacylglycerol as well as triacylglycerol, especially at higher fatty acid concentrations. Increased oleate supplementation from 10–300 μM resulted in increased triacylglycerol synthesis and accumulation of discrete cytoplasmic lipid droplets; palmitate concentrations above 70 μm were toxic. Micrographs of the palmitate-fed cells showed electron translucent slits, suggesting solid depositions of saturated fat, rather than the discrete osmiophilic droplets found in oleate-fed cells. Although GM-10 cells can synthesize fully saturated triacylglycerols, these data suggest that in cells fed saturated fatty acids, solid depositions of neutral lipids may sequester diacylglycerols and thus limit triacylglycerol synthesis.     

Tissue culture of cocoa beans (Theobroma cacao L.): Incorporation of acetate and laurate into lipids of cultured cells

Suspension cultures of cocoa bean tissue readily incorporated exogenous acetate into lipids. The distribution of radioactivity from acetate in individual lipid classes after 48 hr was 20, 5, 1, 15, 25, and 35% in triglycerides, diglycerides, free fatty acids, sterol esters, sterols and polar lipids, respectively. The labeled acetate was rapidly incorporated into various fatty acids within 2 hr. The [1-¹⁴C] saturated fatty acids declined slightly after 4 hr, whereas [1-¹⁴C] oleate declined significantly after 2 hr. There was a concomitant increase in [1-¹⁴C] linoleate. The radioactivity associated with linolenate was relatively high up to 4 hr, declined by 24 hr, and then increased again. The kinetics of fatty acid labeling suggested that biosynthesis of linolenic acid in cocoa bean suspension culture may occur via the desaturation of linoleic acid and the chain elongation of dodecatrienoic acid. The patterns of fatty acid radiolabeling following incubation of cells with [1-¹⁴C] laurate was consistent with this mechanism.     

Distribution and specific activities of RNAs in isolated adipose cells with relation to exogenous lipids

Several observations suggested that the rate of adipose cell formation is influenced by the fatty acid composition of the dietary fat: morphological studies, counting of cells, nuclear and mitochondrial DNA specific activities (SA). Therefore adipose cell RNAs were fractionated in an attempt to localize the site of this increased activity. Weanling rats were fed a diet containing 20% of sunflower oil (SO) or lard (L) for 21 days and fasted for 18 hr. They were then injected with either (6-¹⁴C) orotic acid or³²P-phosphate and killed 210 min or 18 hr later. The adipose cell ribosomal and nuclear RNAs were extracted and fractionated by ultracentrifugation in a sucrose gradient. Comparison of the SA of the fractions revealed that: (1) after 210 min of incorporation, ribosomal RNAs were more active in cells from rats fed SO; after 18 hr, nuclear RNAs of these cells were more active; (2) in each extract, 18S RNAs were always more active in SO than in L; (3) in the cells from the rats fed SO, at the nuclear level the synthesis of rapidly labeled heterodisperse RNAs seemed accelerated; at the ribosomal level they seemed to be utilized more rapidly. This is interpreted as indicative of stimulated enzymic induction.     

Metabolism of lipids in rat testes: Interconversions and incorporation of linoleic acid into lipid classes

Studies are reported on the mode of incorporation of linoleic acid into lipid classes of testicular lipids. 1-¹⁴C-linoleic acid was injected into the testes of adult rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain. Groups of animals were killed at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hr after injections of the radioactive linoleic acid. The testes of each animal and livers of some animals were excised. Fatty acid and lipid class comkposition of the extracted lipids of the testes of each animal were determined as well as the distribution of radioactvity in these compounds. Radioactive linoleic acid and fatty acids derived from it by interconversion and catabolism were incorporated into all the lipid classes. Incorporation of linoleic acid into the lipid classes was much faster than its interconversion or catabolism to other fatty acids. The importance of the fatty acid pool in the mode of incorporation of the fatty acids into the lipid classes is demonstrated.     

Studies on the lipids of sheep red blood cells: III. The fatty acid composition of phospholipids in HK and LK cells

The fatty acid composition of the erythrocyte phospholipids was studied in samples from five high potassium (HK) and five low potassium (LK) sheep. The total fatty acid composition, including the composition from the individual phospholipids in the erythrocytes of these animals is reported. There were no significant differences between either the total fatty acid composition or that of the individual phospholipids in the HK or LK cells. Sheep red cells had very little polyunsaturated fatty acids in their phospholipids. Palmitic, stearic and oleic acids were the major components of glyceryl phospholipids, while nervonic acid accounted for 50% of the fatty acids in the sphingomyelin fraction. The similarity between the fatty acid composition of HK and LK red cells indicates that quantitative differences in the lipids of the membrane are not the primary reason for the observed differences in the cation levels in the two types of cells. This agrees with conclusions drawn from previous studies.     

Comparison of lipid composition ofAedes aegypti andAedes albopictus cells obtained from logarithmic and stationary phases of growth

The total lipids, total neutral lipids, and total phospholipids fromAedes aegypti andAedes albopictus cells cultivated in vitro in a medium containing fetal calf serum were analyzed. The mosquito cells were harvested in the logarithmic and stationary phases of growth. The fatty acid profiles of the lipids showed differences during the aging of the cells but not between species. There was an increase in chain elongation and unsaturation of the fatty acids in the stationary phase when compared with the logarithmic phase of growth. The major components of the fatty acid profiles of the cells were 16∶1, 16∶1, and 18∶1 fatty acids. Few similarities were found between the lipid analysis of the mosquito cells and the growth medium.     

A comparison of the oleaginous yeast,Candida curvata,grown on different carbon sources in continuous and batch culture

The oleaginous yeast,Candida curvata D, was grown in both batch and continuous culture on 5 different carbon sources to compare the efficiency of fat production from the various substrates. Maximum lipid accumulation occurred in batch culture with xylose as the carbon source on nitrogenlimited medium reaching a level of 49% (w/w) of the biomass, but this was reduced to 37% at the optimum dilution rate (D=0.05/hr) in a chemostat. Both the highest biomass and lipid yields were attained in continuous culture with lactose as the sole carbon source at a dilution rate of D=0.04/hr, giving an efficiency of substrate conversion of 60 g of biomass and 18.6 g lipid per 100 g lactose utilized. The relative proportions of the major fatty acids (16∶0, 18∶0, 18∶1, 18∶2) in the lipid were found to vary considerably in batch culture and in continuous culture under carbon-limited conditions. However, on nitrogen-limited media in the chemostat, the fatty acid composition remained relatively constant over the whole range of dilution rates employed. Lipid from xylose-grown cells contained the greatest percentage of stearic acid (18∶0) 15% and the lowest linoleic acid (18∶2) 4%, whereas lipid from ethanol-grown cells contained elevated levels of oleic acid (18∶1) 51% and decreased palmitic acid (16∶0) 25%.     

Cheek cell fatty acids as indicators of dietary lipids in humans

Analysis of cheek cell lipids has been suggested as a noninvasive method for monitoring the fatty acid composition of diets in humans. In a pilot study conducted to determine the validity of the method, cheek cell samples were collected from subjects consuming a low fat (20% of calories) diet consisting of fatty acids with either a 1.0 or 0.3 P/S ratio. Neither total lipid nor polar lipid fatty acids in cheek cells consistently reflected the P/S ratio of the diets. However, there were trends, particularly in the nonpolar lipids, suggesting that cheek cell fatty acid ratios might be useful for monitoring the fatty acid composition of the diets. The diet with the higher P/S ratio (1.0 vs 0.3) consistently resulted in cheek cell lipids with lower ratios of 18∶1/saturated fatty acids and greater 18∶2/20∶4, 18∶2/18∶1 and 18∶2/18∶0 fatty acid ratios.     

Fatty acid composition of phospholipids and neutral lipids during embryonic and early larval development in Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus,L.)

The fatty acid compositions of total polar and total neutral lipids of Atlantic herring eggs and larvae were determined immediately before fertilization, after fertilization and at various times during subsequent embryonic and early larval development. Within 3 hr after fertilization the percentage of total PUFA in neutral lipid decreased from 33% to 20%, with a reciprocal increase in monoenes. Thereafter the percentage of PUFA in the neutral lipids increased progressively, attaining the original level in ripe eggs by the time of yolk sac absorption. During the larval stages the percentage of PUFA continued to increase in the neutral lipid, reaching almost 44% of the total by day 32 after fertilization, although it was reduced to 32% by day 36. The percentage of monoenes in the neutral lipid displayed a progressive decrease during the whole period of development from 3 hr after fertilization. Throughout all the developmental periods the fatty acid composition of total polar lipids remained essentially constant. The polar lipids of the yolk sac displayed virtually the same fatty acid composition as the larval bodies, but the neutral lipids of the yolk sac were low in PUFA compared to the larval bodies. The results are discussed with reference to changes in lipid class composition during development. The conservation of high levels of PUFA in lipids during embryogenesis and early larval development reflects the importance of these fatty acids during development.     

Incorporation of radioactive polyunsaturated fatty acids into liver and brain of developing rat

The incorporation of radioactivity from orally administered linoleic acid-1-¹⁴C, linolenic acid-1-¹⁴C, arachidonic acid-³Hg, and docosahexaenoic acid-¹⁴C into the liver and brain lipids of suckling rats was studied. In both tissues, 22 hr after dosing, 2 distinct levels of incorporation were observed: a low uptake (from 18∶2-1-¹⁴C and 18∶3-1-¹⁴C) and a high uptake (from 20∶4-³H₈ and 22∶6-¹⁴C). In adult rats, the incorporation of radioactivity into brain lipids from 18∶2-1-¹⁴C and 20∶4-³H was considerably lower than the incorporation into the brains of the young rats. In the livers of the suckling rats, the activity from the 18 carbon acids was associated mostly with the triglyceride fraction, whereas the activity from the 20∶4-³H₈ and 22∶6-¹⁴C was concentrated in the phospholipid fraction. In the brain lipids, the activity from the different fatty acids was associated predominantly with the phospholipids. In the liver and brain phospholipid fatty acids, some of the activity in the 18∶2-1-¹⁴C and 18∶3-1-¹⁴C experiments was associated with 20 and 22 carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids; however, radioactivity from orally administered 20∶4-³H₈ and 22∶6-¹⁴C was incorporated intact into the tissue phospholipid to a much greater extent compared with the incorporation of radioactivity into 20∶4 and 22∶6 in the experiments where 18∶2-1-¹⁴C and 18∶3-1-¹⁴C, respectively, were administered. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed. Rat milk contains a wide spectrum of polyunsaturated fatty acids, including linoleate, linolenate, arachidonate, and docosahexaenoate. During the suckling period in the rat, there is a rapid deposition of 20∶4 and 22∶6 in the brain. The results of the present experiments suggested that dietary 20∶4 and 22∶6 were important sources of brain 20∶4 and 22∶6 in the developing rat.     

The effects of fat-free,saturated and polyunsaturated fat diets on rat liver and plasma lipids

The liver and plasma lipids and fatty acid composition of rats fed synthetic diets of differing fat type and content were studied. All animals were starved for 48 hr and then refed a high carbohydrate, fat-free diet for 48 hr. They were then divided into three groups and fed for an additional 48 hrs the following: group 1, the fat-free diet; group 2, a diet containing 44% of calories from corn oil; and group 3, a diet containing 44% calories from completely hydrogenated soybean oil. The total lipid concentration of the liver in the animals on the fat-free diet was elevated at 72 and 96 hr. The addition of either saturated or unsaturated fat in the diet at 48 hr prevented this accumulation. The total phospholipid and cholesterol concentrations of the liver were relatively uninfluenced by any diet in this study. Plasma total fatty acid concentration was elevated at 72 hr in the animals on a fat-free diet compared to those fed the stock diet, starved for 48 hr or fed the fat-containing diets. By 96 hr, however plasma fatty acid concentrations in all groups were similar to those in animals fed only the stock diet. The release of de novo synthesized fatty acids into plasma from the liver was strongly inhibited by dietary fat, either saturated or polyunsaturated. With the fat-free diet there was a significant increase in the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in both liver and plasma. The addition of corn oil to the diet facilitated a reversion of the fatty acid composition in liver and plasma to that found in the animals fed the stock diet ad libitum, but saturated fat did not. No effect of diet on the fatty acid composition of the red cells was observed during the course of this study. Exogenous saturated fatty acids, although similar chemically to the fatty acids synthesized by the liver, may have physiological actions that differ from endogenously synthesized fat.