Maternal liver docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) stores are increased via higher serum unesterified DHA uptake in pregnant Long Evans rats

Maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) supplies the developing fetus during pregnancy; however, the mechanisms are unclear. We utilized pregnant rats to determine rates of DHA accretion, tissue unesterified DHA uptake and whole-body DHA synthesis-secretion. Female rats maintained on a DHA-free, 2% α-linolenic acid diet were either:1) sacrificed at 56 days for baseline measures, 2) mated and sacrificed at 14–18 days of pregnancy or 3) or sacrificed at 14–18 days as age-matched virgin controls.

Source: The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry - June 1, 2017 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Adam H. Metherel, Alex P. Kitson, Anthony F. Domenichiello, R.J. Scott Lacombe, Kathryn E. Hopperton, Marc-Olivier Tr épanier, Shoug M. Alashmali, Lin Lin, Richard P. Bazinet Source Type: research