Abstract
The comparative analysis of fatty acid composition of red blood cell membranes obtained from young (6 months) and old (18 months) albino rats showed that the decrease of palmitic acid and the increase of stearic and polyunsaturated fatty acids (carbon number> 20) were demonstrated with aging. In order to separate the blood cells into fresh and aged ones, the centrifugal fractionation was applied upon the blood obtained from individual animal. It was found that the membrane lipids of aged cells on the fatty acid pattern in comparison with young cells showed the reduced palmitic acid and increased stearic and polyunsaturated fatty acids as shown in the blood cells of aged animals. Comparative studies of fatty acid pattern on the same aged cell fractions between young and old animals showed that the age-dependent changes on the cell level were more intensified in old animals. It suggests that the fatty acid composition of red blood cell membrane of old animals is different from that of young animals at the time when new-born cells are produced. (Received September 21,1970)
