Maternal and fetal plasma lipids in alloxan diabetic and nondiabetic rabbits fed a peanut oil-cholesterol diet

Abstract

The levels of triglyceride, free and ester cholesterol, and phospholipids were studied in peanut oil-cholesterol diet fed nondiabetic and alloxan-diabetic pregnant rabbits and their fetuses. The relative percentage of fatty acid composition was also determined in the cholesterol ester, triglyceride, nonesterified fatty acid, and phospholipid fractions of the maternal and fetal plasma lipids. In pregnant rabbits fed a fat-cholesterol diet, alloxan diabetes caused an increase in maternal plasma triglycerides and a decrease in fetal plasma free cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Alloxan diabetes also caused increases in fetal cholesterol linoleate and nonesterified fatty acid linoleate which are probably due to altered placental transport. Other changes in fetal plasma fatty acids of the alloxan diabetic group were increased cholesterol oleate and phospholipid palmitate and decreased cholesterol palmitate. These changes are most likely due to altered fetal lipid metabolism; however, altered placental transport may play a role. No alterations in maternal plasma fatty acid composition were detected by this study.