EFFECT OF DIETARY LINOLEIC AND LINOLENIC ACIDS ON GESTATION AND PARTURITION IN THE RAT

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Six rats fed a basal, purified diet low in essential fatty acids gave birth to a total of 28 pups, of which 26 were born dead (range of 2-6 pups per rat) after a mean gestation of 24 days. A 7th rat carrying 10 fetuses had a protracted process of parturition with dystocia. Six rats fed the basal diet supplemented with linoleate gave birth to a total of 61 pups of which 57 were born alive (range of 2-14 pups per rat) after a mean gestation of 21.8 days. Seven rats fed the basal diet supplemented with linolenate and carrying a total of 4-6 fetuses (7-12 per rat) had a protracted process of parturition with dystocia, and only 1 live and 1 dead pup were born (mean gestation of 22.8 days). At Caesarian operation a marked uterine inertia was noted. In 4 more rats where the supplement of linolenate was replaced by linoleate from the 17th day of gestation, parturiton appeared normal and 29 live and 4 dead pups were born. The occurrence of dystocia appeared to be related to the number of fetuses being carried to term. It is concluded that, in the rat, linolenate satisfies the requirement for the growth of mother rat and of the fetuses but is inadequate for the normal process of parturition, probably through inadequate production of the prostaglandins involved. There appears to be an obligatory requirement for linoleate at parturition.