Fatty acids in the triglycerides and phospholipids of the common shrew (Sorex araneus) and the water shrew (Neomys fodiens).
Fatty acid composition of the liver, brown fat, thigh muscle and heart of Sorex araneus and Neomys fodiens was determined by GLC and GLC-MS. In both species of shrew the total amounts of omega 3-PUFAs in the phospholipids were greater than those in the triglycerides. Sorex araneus, which feeds solely on a terrestrial diet, had a larger total amount of omega 6-PUFAs in the triglycerides of the brown fat. The phospholipids of the thigh muscle and heart of Neomys fodiens, however, contained more omega 6-PUFAs than did those of Sorex araneus. These results suggest that the fatty acid composition of the membrane phospholipids of shrews is largely genetically regulated and is affected by diet less than the composition of triglycerides. The main C16-monounsaturated fatty acid of most of the specimens studied was 16:1 omega 5, which is unusual among mammals.
Käkelä
R
R
Department of Biology, University of Joensuu, Finland.
Hyvärinen
H
H
D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000032:analysis; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D012788:Shrews / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000737:chemistry*
D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides