In this paper, we describe the dynamics of FA mobilisation from
blubber to blood in NES pups during the post-weaning fast. The blubber
core was divided into the inner and outer layers and only FAs from TGs
were analysed. This allowed determination of the degree to which the
blubber is stratified and considered only the lipid fraction (i.e. TG
fraction) involved in the lipolytic process. In addition, we evaluated
the pattern of free FAs in serum. Coming from the hydrolysis of TGs,
the free FA fraction of serum directly reflects the FAs released from
blubber. In order to study the FA changes relative to blubber
reserves, all results were expressed per unit of wet weight instead
of percentages of total FAs. We also investigated the relative
mobilisation of FAs from both blubber layers between early and
late fast. An analysis of mRNA corresponding to enzymes involved
in the lipolytic process (ATGL and HSL) was carried out in parallel
in order to better understand the regulation of lipolysis and its influence
on FA mobilisation.