Changes in molecular species of rat liver choline glycerophospholipids with development

Molecular species of rat liver choline glycerophospholipids were investigated at various stages of development by a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer system. They were composed mainly by 1,2-diacyglycerophosphocholine and changed with development particularly during the perinatal period.. In the prenatal period, the major species were '32 : 0' (mainly 16 : 0/16 : 0, dipalmitoyl species), '34 : 0' (mainly 16 : 0/18 : 0, palmitoystearoyl speciesY, '34 : 1' (mainly 16 : 0/18 : 1, palmitoyloleoyl species) and '34 : 2' (mainly 16 : 0/18 : 2, palmitoyllinoleoyl speciesY and '32 : 0' decreased rapidly and '34 : 1' increased as the stage proceeded. After birth, however, polyunsaturated species such as '34 : 4' and '38 : 4-6' increased rapidly in contrast to the decrease of '32 : 1, 34 : 1, 36 : 1, and 34 : 0'. Moderate changes were observed in these species during subsequent development.