Maternal Diet and Other Factors Affecting the Lipid Content of Livers of Very Young Rats

Abstract

Within 6 hours after birth of rats, there was an increase in the absolute amount and in the concentration of lipids in the liver. This increase containued until in about 40 hours it reached a level of about 40% of the dry weight, compared to about 15% at birth. The increase in liver lipids was contingent upon consumption of milk by the young. The inclusion of vitamin B₁₂ in the maternal ration and to a lesser extent of choline and of methionine decreased the extent of the rise in liver lipids significantly but did not prevent it. During the first 24 hours after birth, there was a decrease in the fresh weight of the liver due to a loss of moisture and of crude protein, but a simultaneous increase in the absolute amount of liver lipids.