Influence in rats of dietary fats during the perinatal period: effects upon brain chemistry of dams and offspring

Abstract

Female rats were fed a purified ration containing 20% fat during gestation and lactation and the offspring were fed a commercial ration after weaning. The fat content of the purified ration was butter oil, a mixture of equal parts of butter oil and lard, or safflower oil. Brains of the dams were analyzed 1 month after parturition and brains of the offspring were analyzed when they were 20 weeks of age. Brains of the dams and offspring fed the safflower oil (about 75% linoleic acid) exhibited changes if comparisons were made with those fed other fats. In the dams, the percentage of cerebral weight as related to total brain weight was increased and the dry weight percentages of the cerebrum and brainstem were increased. In the cerebrums of male and female offspring, the DNA concentrations were increased and the RNA:DNA ration were decreased.