Phospholipids and fatty acids in erythrocytes of lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis during autumn prespawning period and the absorption spectrum of their lipid extract

• Published in: Journal of evolutionary biochemistry and physiology 2015-07, Vol.51 (4), p.288-295
• Main Authors: Zabelinskii, S. A., Chebotareva, M. A., Shukolyukova, E. P., Krivchenko, A. I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Physiology; Animal reproduction; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Comparative and Ontogenic Biochemistry; Erythrocytes; Evolutionary Biology; Fatty acids; Life Sciences; Lipids
• ISSN: 0022-0930; 1608-3202
• DOI: 10.1134/S0022093015040043

The contents of some classes of phospholipids and their fatty acid composition were investigated in erythrocytes of the lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis during the autumn period of its prespawning migration. The erythrocyte phospholipid spectrum in lamprey, the oldest vertebrate, was found to be similar to that in many mammals. A four-fold prevalence of phosphatidylcholine over sphingomyelin, as well as a prevalence of ω3- over ω6-acids, indicate the “fluidity” of the lamprey erythrocytic membranes—a significant index of the lamprey erythrocyte deformation ability. Phosphatidylethanolamine and its plasmalogenic form are the most unsaturated phospholipids (unsaturation indices are 230 and 342, respectively). Phosphatidylcholine is the most saturated phospholipid (UI is 167). The major fatty acid indices characterizing the fluidity of erythrocyte membranes were found to remain intact during the whole period of lamprey prespawning migration until spawning. The blood contains several buffer systems, specifically membrane phospholipids, which neutralize incoming acids and alkalis. During life activities of organisms, the pH inside erythrocytes changes. Presumably, the blood buffer properties are mainly determined by the dissociation of water. Inside the narrow vessels of the circulatory system, hemoglobin binds and releases oxygen molecules due to the interaction of the buffer systems with water. The dissociability of water, as well as ion movements, generate local pH changes in erythrocytes passing through the narrow vessels allowing oxygen molecules to be displaced/attached from/to hemoglobin.