In vivo metabolism of labeled oleic and linoleic acids by the laying hen.

Radioactive oleic and linoleic acids, labeled with 3H in the chain and 14C in the carbonyl group, were administered to white leghorn laying hens. Mixtures fed in separate experiments included: (1) 3H- and 14C-labeled oleic acid, (2) 3H- and 14C-labeled linoleic acid and (3) [3H]oleic aicd and [14C] linoleic acid. The 3H/14C ratios of both the neutral lipid and phospholipid fractions from the egg yolk and of the isolated acids from these lipid fractions were compared to that in the administered mixture. Agreement in the 3H/14C ratios for the neutral lipid fraction from each of the feeding experiments indicated that neither the 3H- and 14C labeled acids nor the oleic or linoleic acids were distinguishable during synthesis of the neutral lipid. Analysis of the phospholipid fractions showed that when dual-labeled mixtures of oleic acid were administered, 3H/14C ratios were elevated and, therefore, there was selective elimination of the 14C label. When dual-labeled mixtures of linoleic acid were administered, the 3H/14C ratios were in agreement; and when the two acids were administered simultaneously as a dual-labeled mixture, there was selective incorporation of linoleic acid. These findings indicate separate metabolic pathways for synthesis of neutral lipid and phospholipid in egg yolk as expected, as well as preferential use of the essential fatty acid in the phospholipid by the hen.