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Effect of dietary linoleic and linolenic acids on gestation and parturition in the rat
Six rats fed a basal, purified diet low in essential fatty acids gave birth to a total of twenty-eight pups, of which twenty-six were born dead (range of two to six pups per rat) after a mean gestation of 24 days. A seventh rat carrying ten fetuses had a protracted process of parturition with dystocia. Six rats fed the basal diet supplemented with linoleate gave birth to a total of sixty-one pups of which fifty-seven were born alive (range of two to fourteen pups per rat) after a mean gestation of 21.8 days. Seven rats fed the basal diet supplemented with linolenate and carrying a total of sixty-three fetuses (seven to twelve per rat) had a protracted process of parturition with dystocia, and only one live and one dead pup were born (mean gestation of 22.8 days). At Caesarian operation a marked uterine inertia was noted. In four more rats where the supplement of linolenate was replaced by linoleate from the seventeenth day of gestation, parturition appeared normal and twenty-nine live and four dead pups were born. The occurrence of dystocia appeared to be related to the number of fetuses being carried to term. It is concluded that, in the rat, linolenate satisfies the requirement for the growth of mother rat and of the fetuses but is inadequate for the normal process of parturition, probably through inadequate production of the prostaglandins involved. There appears to be an obligatory requirement for linoleate at parturition.
Six rats fed a basal, purified diet low in essential fatty acids gave birth to a total of twenty-eight pups, of which twenty-six were born dead (range of two to six pups per rat) after a mean gestation of 24 days. A seventh rat carrying ten fetuses had a protracted process of parturition with dystocia. Six rats fed the basal diet supplemented with linoleate gave birth to a total of sixty-one pups of which fifty-seven were born alive (range of two to fourteen pups per rat) after a mean gestation of 21.8 days. Seven rats fed the basal diet supplemented with linolenate and carrying a total of sixty-three fetuses (seven to twelve per rat) had a protracted process of parturition with dystocia, and only one live and one dead pup were born (mean gestation of 22.8 days). At Caesarian operation a marked uterine inertia was noted. In four more rats where the supplement of linolenate was replaced by linoleate from the seventeenth day of gestation, parturition appeared normal and twenty-nine live and four dead pups were born. The occurrence of dystocia appeared to be related to the number of fetuses being carried to term. It is concluded that, in the rat, linolenate satisfies the requirement for the growth of mother rat and of the fetuses but is inadequate for the normal process of parturition, probably through inadequate production of the prostaglandins involved. There appears to be an obligatory requirement for linoleate at parturition.