When rats are fed a diet high in linoleic acid after birth, their adult brains show a lower ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids, with a more pronounced effect in females, which may affect brain signaling pathways involved in development.

When mother rats eat a diet high in linoleic acid, their male offspring show higher levels of certain brain phospholipid markers compared to female offspring, suggesting that the sex of the offspring influences how the brain responds to this dietary fat.