Document Detail


Membrane fatty acid composition of tissues is related to body mass of mammals.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  8558599     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Phospholipids were extracted from tissues (heart, skeletal muscle, kidney cortex, liver and brain) of mammals representing a 9,000-fold range in body mass (mouse, rat, rabbit, sheep and cattle) and their fatty acid composition was determined. In heart, skeletal muscle and kidney cortex, there were significant allometric decreases in the Unsaturation Index (UI; average number of double bonds per 100 fatty acid molecules) with increasing body mass. There were significant inverse allometric relationships between body mass and the proportion of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 omega 3) in heart and skeletal muscle. In heart, skeletal muscle and kidney cortex, larger mammals also had shorter fatty acid chains in their phospholipids and a higher proportion of monounsaturates. In liver, smaller mammals had a higher UI than larger mammals (except the rabbit, which had the lowest UI and very low proportions of omega 3 fatty acids). The brain of all mammals maintained a high UI with similar levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially 22:6 omega 3. Our results suggest that in heart, skeletal muscle and kidney cortex the activity of the elongases and desaturases are reduced in large mammals compared to small mammals. The allometric trends in membrane composition may be involved in modifying membrane permeability. It is proposed that the elevated degree of polyunsaturation in the membranes of several tissues from small mammals is related to their higher metabolic activity.
Authors:
P Couture; A J Hulbert
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of membrane biology     Volume:  148     ISSN:  0022-2631     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Membr. Biol.     Publication Date:  1995 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1996-02-26     Completed Date:  1996-02-26     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0211301     Medline TA:  J Membr Biol     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  27-39     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, N.S.W., Australia.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Body Constitution / physiology*
Body Weight
Brain Chemistry
Cattle
Fats, Unsaturated / chemistry
Fatty Acids / analysis*
Kidney Cortex / chemistry
Membrane Lipids / analysis*
Mice
Mice, Inbred CBA
Muscles / chemistry
Myocardium / chemistry
Phospholipids / analysis
Rabbits
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Sheep
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Fats, Unsaturated; 0/Fatty Acids; 0/Membrane Lipids; 0/Phospholipids

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