[Hepatic microsomal delta 6 and delta 5 desaturations of linoleic acid in lactating rats fed with a low-protein diet supplemented or not with methionine].

In the lactating rat, a low protein diet (8% casein) decreases strongly liver microsomal delta 6 and delta 5 desaturase activities. The supplementation of the diet with 0.4% methionine improves partly delta 6 desaturase activity but has no effect on delta 5 desaturase activity.