Comparison of the Phospholipid
and Triacylglycerol Fatty Acid Profile of Rat Serum, Skeletal
Muscle and Heart
M. G. NIKOLAIDIS, A. PETRIDOU, V. MOUGIOS
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University
of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Received April 4. 2005
Accepted June 27, 2005
On-line available August 5, 2005
Summary
Although several studies have analyzed the fatty acid profile of
phospholipids (PL) and, to a lesser degree, triacylglycerols
(TG) in one or more tissues concurrently, a systematic
comparison of the fatty acid composition of different tissues
and/or lipid classes is lacking. The purpose of the present
study was to compare the fatty acid composition of major lipid
classes (PL and TG) in the rat serum, soleus muscle, extensor
digitorum longus muscle and the heart. Lipids were extracted
from these tissues and analyzed by a combination of thin-layer
chromatography and gas chromatography. We found many significant
differences in various tissues and lipid classes. Serum had the
most distinct fatty acid profile in PL but this “uniqueness” was
less apparent in TG, where differences among tissues were in
general less frequent than in PL. These two skeletal muscles
exhibited similar fatty acid composition in both lipid classes
despite their different muscle fiber type composition, denoting
that fiber type is not a major determinant of the fatty acid
composition of rat skeletal muscle. The fatty acid profile of
heart PL was the most different from that of the other tissues
examined. PL were rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, whereas
TG were rich in monounsaturated fatty acids. Although the
reasons for the differences in fatty acid profile among the
tissues examined are largely unknown, it is likely that these
differences have an impact upon numerous biological functions.
Key words
Fatty acid composition • Lipid metabolism
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