Site-specific differences in the responses of guinea-pig adipose tissue to changes in the fatty acid composition of the diet

Abstract

Young adult guinea-pigs were fed on diets differing mainly in triacylglycerol content of 18:2 (n-6), 18:3 (n-3) and 18:1 (n-9) fatty acids for six to twelve weeks. All animals gained weight normally. The fatty acid compositions of triacylglycerols in nine adipose depots (3 superficial, 3 intra-abdominal, 2 intermuscular and the plantar paw pad) were analyzed using capillary gas chromatography. Each site demonstrated a specific pattern of fatty acid compositional changes: some fatty acids changed more rapidly than others, and within each class of sites (e.g. the superficial sites) some depots showed faster compositonal change than other depots. The results suggest that some adipose depots readily exchange circulating fatty acids, or modify existing fatty acids, while others have a lower rate of fatty acid turnover.