Sterospecific analysis of hepatoma, host liver, and normal rat liver triglycerides from animals on chow and fat free diets.

Triglycerides from normal liver, host liver, and heptoma of rats maintained on chow and fat-free diets were subjected to sterospecific analysis. Normal and host liver triglycerides from animals on the same diet did not exhibit significant differences. Fat-free diet reduced polyunsaturated fatty acids in normal and in host liver triglycerides. Each position of hepatoma and liver triglyceride glycerol exhibited a characteristic fatty acid composition. Palmitate concentrations were reduced dramatically and stearate levels were increased significantly at the 1 position of hepatoma triglycerides, relative to the corresponding position of liver triglycerides which were affected little by diet ot tumor. Except for higher percentages of C-20 and higher fatty acids, common to all three positions, the composition of hepatoma triglycerides at the 2 position appeared normal. The 3 position of hepatoma triglycerides contained significantly higher percentages of stearate than liver. Data obtained previously for Ehrlich ascites cell triglycerides were in good agreement with this hepatoma. Data from these two neoplasms suggest that the metabolic system that regulates or controls the fatty acid composition at the 1 and 3 positions of normal tissue triglycerides does not function normally in neoplasms.