Unusual odd-chain and trans-octadecenoic fatty acids in tissues of feral European beaver ( Castor fiber), Eurasian badger ( Meles meles) and raccoon dog ( Nyctereutes procyonoides)

• Published in: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2009-06, Vol.153 (2), p.145-148
• Main Authors: Martysiak-Żurowska, Dorota, Zalewski, Kazimierz, Kamieniarz, Robert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Animals; Badger; Beaver; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Mustelidae - metabolism; Oleic Acids - metabolism; Raccoon dog; Raccoon Dogs - metabolism; Rodentia - metabolism; Trans Fatty Acids - metabolism; Unusual fatty acids
• ISSN: 1096-4959; 1879-1107
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2009.02.007

The fatty acid (FA) composition of depot adipose tissues in the raccoon dog ( Nyctereutes procyonoides) and the European beaver ( Castor fiber) differs from that reported for the lipids of other monogastric animals, especially with regard to the presence of trans-octadecenoic acids. The concentrations of pentadecanoic acid 15:0 (PA) and heptadecanoic acid 17:0 (HA) in the lipids of the tested animals ranged from 0.23 to 0.79% and from 0.33 to 2.35% of total FAs, respectively. The total content of their monounsaturated cis isomers varied from 0.12 to 2.75% for pentadecanoic acid ( c-PA) and from 0.38 to 2.45% for heptadecanoic acid ( c-HA). It is interesting that the tissues of European beavers and raccoon dogs contained also trans isomers of octadecenoic acid C18:1 ( t-OA) including vaccenic acid C18:1,11t (VA), typical of ruminants. The presence of FAs with an uneven number of carbon atoms and trans-octadecenoic acids in depot adipose tissue is indicative of the process of hydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid) in the digestive tract. The tissues of badgers also contained t-OA (from below 0.05% in the liver to 0.44% in the kidneys), but no VA was found.