| Summary: | The fatty acid composition of erythrocyte and liver mitochondrial lipids was readily and drastically altered by varying the fatty acid content of the diet. Nonessential polyunsaturated fatty acids were found in these tissues when the tissue level of linoleic acid fell below 10% of the total fatty acids. In essential fatty acid deficiency, two isomeric eicosatrienoic acids appeared, except when the diet supplied other more highly unsaturated nonessential fatty acids. Although brain mitochondrial lipids were relatively less affected by dietary manipulations, their fatty acid compositions could be significantly altered by variations of dietary fat; nonessential polyunsaturated fatty acids from cod liver oil were also incorporated into these lipids. It is postulated that such alterations in the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of phospholipids, other lipid complexes, or both, may be of importance in metabolism.
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