A low degree of fatty acid unsaturation leads to high resistance to lipid peroxidation in mitochondria and microsomes of different organs of quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).
Birds -- particularly long-lived species -- have special adaptations for preventing tissue damage caused by reactive oxygen species. The objective of the present study was to analyse the fatty acid composition and non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation of mitochondria and microsomes obtained from liver, heart and brain of quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), a short-lived bird. Fatty acids located in total lipids of rat liver, heart and brain mitochondria and microsomes were determined using gas chromatography and lipid peroxidation was evaluated using a chemiluminescence assay. The unsaturated fatty acid content found in mitochondria and microsomes of all tissue examined was approximately 50 and 40%, respectively with a prevalence of C18:1 n9. The C18:2 n6 content in brain mitochondria was significantly lower as compared to liver and heart mitochondria. Whereas the C20:4 n6 content in mitochondria from all tissues examined and brain microsomes was approximately 6%, liver and heart microsomes exhibited lower values. C22:6 n3 was absent in liver mitochondria, very low content in liver microsomes and heart organelles (between 0.5 and 1%) and high content in brain organelles, with mitochondria having the highest value (11%). Whereas liver and heart organelles were not affected when subjected to lipid peroxidation, brain mitochondria were highly affected, as indicated by the increase in chemiluminescence and a considerable decrease of C20:4 n6 and C22:6 n3. These results indicate that a low degree of fatty acid unsaturation in liver and heart organelles of quail, a short-lived bird, may confer advantage by decreasing their sensitivity to lipid peroxidation process.
Gutiérrez
Ana María
AM
Cátedra de Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
Reboredo
Guillermo Raúl
GR
Mosca
Susana María
SM
Catalá
Angel
A
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D003370:Coturnix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D008861:Microsomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000378:metabolism; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity; D051381:Rats
D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated