Chain elongation-desaturation of linoleic acid during the development of the pig. Implications for the supply of polyenoic fatty acids to the developing brain.

Rates of chain elongation-desaturation of C18:2 omega 6 were compared for liver and brain microsomes in fetal, neonatal and postnatal piglets. Rates of chain elongation-desaturation of C18:2 omega 6 were greatest in liver and increased during perinatal development on a per organ basis. These results suggest that fetal liver and brain has the capability to chain elongate and desaturate essential fatty acids to longer chain homologues. For brain rates of synthesis of chain elongation-desaturation products was greatest during the newborn period whereas this metabolic function was greatest in liver in the postnatal stages of life examined.