EFFECT OF DIETARY LINOLEIC-ACID ON LIPOGE NESIS IN ADIPOSE-TISSUE OF PIG

The effect of dietary linoleic acid on lipogenesis was determined on 3 6 Large White castrated male pigs fed between 35 and 100 kg liveweight diets containing 4% of total lipids including 3 levels of linoleic ac id 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5%. The elevation in dietary linoleic acid increases the carcass fatness (P < 0.01). At slaughter, linoleic acid content i n the backfat increases with the level of dietary linoleic acid P < 0. 001). The lipogenesis measured by the activities of acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, malic enzyme and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase increa ses significantly in adipose tissues (backfat and lean fat) with the d ietary linoleic supply, whereas no effect was noticed in intramuscular fat. The increase in fat synthesis can explain the higher increase in carcass fatness of pigs fed diets containing high levels of linoleic acid.