Effect of exogenous long-chain fatty acids on individual fatty acid synthesis by dispersed ruminant mammary gland cells.

We investigated the effect of exogenously added fatty acids on de novo synthesis of individual fatty acids and their incorporation into triacylglycerols by dispersed lactating ruminant mammary gland epithelial cells. Palmitate addition strongly stimulated synthesis and incorporation of butyrate and, to a smaller extent, palmitate synthesis and incorporation. Oleic acid strongly inhibited synthesis of all fatty acids except butyrate, whereas the effect of lauric acid was nearly neutral. Free fatty acid depletion of the mammary gland cells potentiated the effect of palmitate and made oleate less inhibitory.