Changes in the fatty acid composition of triacylglycerols and phospholipids during the life cycle of the lamprey Geotria australis Gray

Bird, David J.; Potter, Ian C.

Abstract

1. 1. Fatty acid composition of Geotria australis has been investigated in larvae and downstream migrants and in muscle, liver and gonad of early upstream migrant and nearly mature adults.

2. 2. The main depot lipid class in G. australis is triacylglycerol.

3. 3. Triacylglycerol polyunsaturated fatty acids are present in adults but negligible in larvae, a feature reflecting differences in diet.

4. 4. Phospholipids of larvae and adults contain appreciable amounts of 22:5 (n − 3) and 22:6 (n − 3), apparently reflecting an adaptation to low temperatures.

5. 5. Fatty acid composition of muscle, and to a lesser extent liver, undergoes only small changes during the 16 month non-trophic spawning-run period.

6. 6. Ovarian triacylglycerols contain exceptionally high levels of pentaenoic and hexaenoic acids (> 45%).

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 1983
• Journal: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Print ISSN: 0305-0491
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 75
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 31-41
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-0491%252883%252990036-6
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1113718
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0305-0491%2883%2990036-6