title: Phospholipid composition of plasma and erythrocyte membranes in animal species by 31P NMR.
abstract: The aim of this study was to provide basal values of phospholipid (PL) composition in different animal species by 31P NMR analysis using detergents. This fast and accurate method allowed a quantitative analysis of PLs without any previous separation. Plasma and erythrocyte membrane PLs were investigated in mammals (pig, cow, horse). Moreover, for the first time, the composition of plasma PLs in avian (chicken and ostrich) was performed by 31P NMR. Significant qualitative and quantitative interspecies differences in plasma PL levels were found. Phosphatidilcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SPH) levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in chicken plasma than all the other species tested. In erythrocytes, cow PC and phosphatidylcholine diarachidoyl were significantly lower (P < 0.001) than for pigs and horses, whereas pig PC presented intermediate values among cows and horses. Inorganic phosphate and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels were also significantly different between the species under investigation. The [SPH/total PLs] molar ratios in erythrocytes confirmed interspecies differences in phospholipid composition while the PC/SPH molar ratios could be related to a distinct erythrocyte flexibility and aggregability. Diet and nutrition may contribute primarily to the interspecies differences in plasma PL amounts detected. Significant differences between chicken plasma PC and SPH levels and those of the other animal species could be ascribed to a fat metabolism specific to egg production.
authors: Dipartimento di Morfologia, Biochimica, Fisiologia e Produzioni Animali, Sezione di Biochimica, Università di Messina, Messina, Italy. alferl@unime.it
authors: Alida Maria
authors: AM
authors: Ferlazzo
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Bruschetta
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Di Pietro
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Medica
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Notti
authors: Enrico
authors: E
authors: Rotondo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D002645:Chickens; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008322:Mammals; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000737:chemistry*; D013045:Species Specificity; D020310:Struthioniformes
chemical_list: D010743:Phospholipids; D010758:Phosphorus