The use of two in-situ simultaneously-perfused placentas to investigate the effect of carrier proteins on linoleic and palmitic acid transfer in the guinea pig.

By perfusing two placentas concurrently in five animals we have found that linoleic acid is transferred across the guinea-pig placenta more readily than palmitic acid. In the in-situ perfusion this transfer is modulated by the type of albumin used in the perfusate. Removing the associated lipid from the perfusate albumin reduced the amount of non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) transfer rather than enhanced it. Many researchers use fat free albumin as a protein carrier in in vivo and in-vitro systems, our results indicate that this may not be the most appropriate substance to use.