Dolichols in the liver of some poikilothermic vertebrates and birds

Abstract

1. 1. The liver tissue from nine species of amphibians, reptiles and birds were tested for dolichol concentration and isoprenologue distribution of dolichol family by high-performance liquid chromatography. In the case of chicken ( Gallus domesticus) and grass snake ( Natrix matrix L.) the liver dolichol content was determined in respect of sex. 2. 2. Great fluctuations in the total content of dolichols in the liver of reptiles could be observed–from 4.4 μg/g for grass snake liver (male) to 242.1/gmg/g for common wall lizard; a 50-fold increase. 3. 3. The average value of total dolichol content in the liver of adult birds tested ( x = 170.3 μg/g) was higher in comparison with that of adult individuals of amphibians and reptiles (with the exception of common wall lizard and grass snake (male), x = 61.4 μg/g, independently of variations in each group investigated. 4. 4. The dolichol amount in the liver of male animals tested was lower, compared to the respective female ones. In the case of grass snake, the liver dolichol concentration of female specimens was about five times higher in comparison with the male. 5. 5. The chain length of the different isoprene analogues of liver dolichol family varied more frequently between 16 and 22 isoprene units, but in some liver tissue dolichols, 15, 23 and 24 isoprene units could be detected. 6. 6. The main analogue component in the liver dolichols of most species of poikilothermic vertebrates and birds was dolichol-19.