CHANGES IN LIPID CONCENTRATIONS AND FATTY ACID COMPOSITIONS IN RAT CEREBRUM DURING MATURATION

Abstract— Rat cerebrum was analysed at 20 different ages from birth to 45 days of age, for its concentration of protein, cholesterol, cerebrosides, phospholipids and gangliosides, and for the concentration of fatty acids of the linoleic and linolenic acid series. The fatty acid patterns of choline phosphoglycerides and ethanolamine phosphoglycerides were determined at the same ages. Phases of rapid accretion were found for protein, phospholipids, gangliosides and cholesterol. The accretion of the fatty acids of the linoleic acid series ceased at 20 days of age, while that of the fatty acids of the linolenic acid series continued. The fatty acid composition of the phosphoglycerides changed during the maturation of rat cerebrum and these changes consisted of chain elongation, increased unsaturation and variation in the pattern of the polyenoic acids. These changes varied irregularly with age and each developmental stage had characteristic fatty acid patterns of choline and ethanolamine phosphoglycerides.