[Variations in the fatty acid composition of rat erythrocyte membrane lipids at different ages]

The fatty acid composition of the erythrocyte lipids was studied in newborn, growing and adult rats. The percentage of oleic acid progressively decreased from the birth up to the adult age, while that of linoleic acid markedly increased. A smaller increase was also seen in the arachidonic acid content. These changes do not seem to be accounted for by differences in the percentages of the major phospholipid fractions or to differences in the age of the erythrocyte. Rather, variations in the fatty acid pattern of the various fractions of plasma lipids seem to be responsible for the lipid changes in the erythrocyte membrane.