Unusual fatty acids in the depot fat of the Canadian beaver (Castor canadensis).
Unusual fatty acids in the adipose tissue of the Canadian beaver were analysed by argentation thin-layer chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of several adducts and spectroscopic measurements. The total proportion of trans-octadecenoic fatty acids and the distribution of double bonds in these acids resembled those of ruminant fats. Because trans-11-18:1 was the main trans-18:1 isomer of beaver fat and a conjugated diene cis-9, trans-11-18:2 was also detected, it can be deduced that linoleic acid (cis-9, cis-12-18:2) is biohydrogenated in the beaver. The ideas that microbial processes intervene before normal absorption and fatty acid metabolism of the beaver is also supported by the larger amounts of anteiso odd-chain fatty acids with respect to the corresponding iso acids in the beaver depots. In addition, the distribution of double bonds in the cis-octadecenoic acids was wide, as it is in the depot fats of ruminants.
Käkelä
R
R
Department of Biology, University of Joensuu, Finland.
Hyvärinen
H
H
Vainiotalo
P
P
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D005387:Finland; D012377:Rodentia; D012418:Ruminants; D013045:Species Specificity
D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated