Studies on the Lipid Metabolism Using 14C-1-PaImitate in Fetal Rats

Abstract
The following conclusions can be drawn from our experiments with regard to the fetal lipid metabolism, using the tracer technique and a mathematical model. (1) The fetal plasma free fatty acids (FFA) exchange so rapidly with another FFA compartment (probably the interstitially located FFA) that the FFA of both compartments can be considered as one homogeneous FFA compartment. The turnover time of this compartment was calculated to be 0.78 min. (2) 1.25 μmoles FFA/ min pass through this FFA compartment. This indicates that the rat fetus must dispose of a lipolytic activity comparable to that of the adult animal. (3) The amount of FFA esterified to fetal triglycerides is relatively greater than the amount of FFA esterified to fetal phospholipids. This finding reflects a certain accumulation of fat during the last days of pregnancy.

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