Influence of early postnatal overnutrition of rats on fatty acid composition of membrane lipids.

The influence of early postnatal overnutrition on fatty acid composition of erythrocyte, thrombocyte and liver mitochondria membrane lipids was studied in male rats (3, 6 and 11 months old) reared in small nests (2 pups per dam) in comparison to normally bred rats (12 pups per dam). Independent of age elevated proportions of palmitic and stearic acid at the expense of linoleic and arachidonic acid were found in all membrane lipids investigated in the postnatally overfed animals. These changes are discussed in relation to the enhanced lipogenesis with increased body fat accumulation in this animal model of a dietary induced obesity.