Maternal and umbilical venous plasma lipid concentrations at delivery in the mare.

The research paper is a study on the concentrations and composition of various fatty acids in the blood samples of maternal and umbilical cord veins in mares at the time of delivery. It suggests that the placenta in horses allows for the permeability of fatty acids, with noticeable amounts of essential fatty acids and their derivatives present in the umbilical vein.

Research Methodology and Findings

• The research was based on blood samples taken from the maternal and umbilical cord veins of 17 mares at the time of delivery.
• The researchers analyzed these samples to determine the concentrations and fatty acid composition of free fatty acid, triacylglycerol, and phospholipid fractions in the plasma.
• The results showed similar concentrations of plasma free fatty acids in both maternal and umbilical cord vein samples. This similarity, along with a positive correlation between the two levels, suggested that the equine placenta allows fatty acids to permeate.

Deeper Observations and Conclusions

• There were significant amounts of essential fatty acids, along with their longer-chain derivatives, in both the free fatty acids and phospholipid fractions of the umbilical vein plasma, further supporting the idea of placental permeability.
• Interestingly, certain long-chain polyunsaturated derivatives of essential fatty acids were found in the umbilical venous plasma phospholipid fraction but were not detected in maternal circulating lipids. This suggests that these precursor fatty acids are accessible to both fetal and placental tissues and likely elongated and incorporated into phospholipids by one or both.
• The newborn foal’s fat stores showed very little presence of essential fatty acids, with negligible fat stores in the liver. This may indicate that the essential fatty acids are consumed immediately after birth and are not stored as much as in other species.