Fatty Acid Components of Ovine Tissue Lipids, and The Response to Prolonged Protein Depletion

Abstract

The lipids of ovine liver and plasma have been separated by silicic acid chromatog-raphy into cholesterol ester, triglyceride, free fatty acid, and phospholipid fractions. Fatty acid constituents of these fractions have been determined by gas chromatography. The lipid content of these tissues was also determined for animals subjected to a prolonged protein depletion. Several significant differences were caused by the experimental diet, with the liver showing more alterations than plasma. The unsaturated C18 fatty acids were affected to the greatest degree. Implications of these results have been discussed in relation to comparative biochemistry and intermediary lipid metabolism.