[Metabolism of fatty acids with an odd number of carbon atoms].

The paper is concerned with main results of investigations and data available in literature on the metabolism of higher odd-numbered fatty acids significant for elucidating the role of these acids in the animal organism at the neo- and postnatal developmental stages. Special attention is paid to the relation between the metabolism of fatty acids, propionate and phospholipids. Labelled 14C from [2- 14C] propionate is shown to incorporate into choline of the liver and brain phospholipids of the rats aged 21 days (the period of intensive myelinization).

[Direct evidence of the role of propionate in choline synthesis in rats].

Wistar rats were injected with 2-14C-propionate in a dose of 30 mu Ci/100 g bw, 2 h after food intake. Two hours after isotope injection the rats were decapitated to determine specific radioactivity (SR) in liver and brain lipids, in liver phosphatidylcholine (PC) and its structural components. The label was incorporated in liver lipids in a far greater amount.

[Effect of cooling and of subsequent self-heating on the content of unesterified fatty acids and ketone bodies in rat blood and organs].

Deep cooling was shown to increase distinctly the content of unesterified fatty acids in blood, liver and internal tissues of rats. Ketones were also markedly increased in blood after the cooling and within the first subsequent hours when the animals were kept at room temperature. Composition and the ratio of main saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were considerably altered in the experimental animals.