Comparison of in vivo fatty acid synthesis of the genetically lean and fat chickens.

In vivo lipogenesis was studied in genetically lean or fat male chickens using tritiated water. Fatty acid synthesis was more pronounced in liver than in other tissues in both lines. Liver synthesis was 26% higher in fat birds than in lean. The liver of fat chickens were heavier than those of lean chickens. This difference was partly due to the triglyceride content of the fat line liver.