Effect of thyroid hormones on the metabolism of fatty acid components of hepatic plasma membrane lipids in rats of varying age

The metabolism of liver plasma membrane phospholipid acyl components of rats of various age was studied in vivo and in vitro. It was found that the level of incorporation of palmitic and linoleic acids into membranous phospholipids sharply increased in animals aged 1-3 months showing a decrease in 12- and 24 month-old animals. The incorporation of labelled fatty acids into phospholipids is inhibited in liver of adult animals and stimulated in liver of old rats by thyroid hormones.