Composition of liver lipids of the rat during pregnancy and lactation

Triglyceride concentrations in rat liver rose during late pregnancy, declined at peak lactation, and then rose again during involution. The percentage of oleate in the triglycerides rose at peak lactation, but that of linoleate fell. Although phospholipid concentrations were unchanged, the percentage of palmitate in this fraction rose, and those of stearate and arachidonate fell during pregnancy and lactation. These changes may be related to the changes in lipogenesis and fat mobilization that occur during pregnancy and lactation.