Chemical Characterization of Inbred Strain Mouse Milk. II. Total Fatty Acids and Fatty Acid Analyses. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Fatty acid composition of milk from DBA/2J, C57BL/6J, B6D2F, and 3 backcross types classified according to coat color (B6D2F₁ X DBA/2J) was obtained by gas liquid chromatography. The total of fatty acids in mouse milk ranged from 7.79 to 19.02 g/100 ml and 14 fatty acids were identified. Measureable quantities, 0.02 g/100 ml or more, of C¹⁰ to C^22:1 were present. Eight were saturated fatty acids and of the 6 unsaturated ones, 4 were singly unsaturated and 2 were doubly unsaturated. Linoleic, palmitic, and oleic acids occurred in highest concentration, probably because the dietary corn oil is especially rich in these acids. Linolenic acid and arachidonic acids were absent in milk, and are also lacking in corn oil. Although genetic analysis of fatty acid composition could not be done because of procedural difficulties in obtaining sufficiently large samples of milk from individual mice, the possibility of genetic influences upon fatty acid levels exists for reasons which are discussed.