Content of some plasma metabolites and lipid composition of pancreas in early post-natal growth of lambs - Effect of age and linoleic acid

The results show that neither age nor linoleic acid intake change plasma gl ucose content. Increased contents of free fatty acids (FFA), beta-hydroxybu tyrate (BHB) and insulin in 30-day animals - compared to 10 days old ones c orrespond to some extent to changes in the physiological condition of lambs during the first month of their growth. Linoleic acid intake induces depre ssing growth of animals in that period, decrease of FFA and BHB, accompanie d by characteristic changes in fatty acid composition of plasma FFA and pan creatic phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Increased incorpo ration of linoleic acid in the composition of studied lipids corresponds to its high content in diet. Changed fatty acid composition of pancreatic pho spholipids is probably connected with increased insulin secretion in those animals.