title: A histological and NMR study of the melon of the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba).
abstract: The melon, the echolocation organ of the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), was investigated by morphological and high-resolution (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods, in order to characterize structure and composition gradient at the histological and molecular level. Morphological analysis showed that the lipidic components are organized in an adipose tissue; moreover, a clear muscular component was observed. Age-related structural differences also were noted. Furthermore, NMR yielded detailed information at a qualitative-quantitative level on the lipid components.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, S.S. 554 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Cagliari, Italy. scano@unica.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maxia
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maggiani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crnjar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sirigu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004289:Dolphins / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004455:Echolocation; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids