Effect of maternal diet on the distribution of phospholipids and their fatty acid composition in Xenopus laevis embryos

We determined the total phospholipid content, the percentage distribution o f different phospholipid classes and their fatty acid composition in 6-day- old embryos obtained from Xenopus laevis females fed on two different diets . A first group of females was fed on beef liver, and a second one was nour ished with commercial fish food very rich in omega-3 fatty acids. The embry os showed different patterns of phospholipids that had dissimilar fatty aci d compositions. Phosphatidylinositol content was particularly affected. Due to the functional roles of this phospholipid as part of the transmembrane signaling machinery, it is possible to hypothesize that maternal diet might influence cell metabolism in amphibian embryos. (J. Nutr. Biochem. 10:44-4 8, 1999) (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 1999. All rights reserved.