Liver total lipids and fatty acid composition of shot red and fallow deer males in various reproduction periods

Abstract

In this study total lipid (TL) content and the fatty acid composition changes in the liver of red deer stags ( n=35) and fallow deer bucks ( n=19) were examined at various reproductive stages. Samples were taken from mature red deer stags in the rut (September), in the post-rut (October), at the end of the rut (November) and after sexual activity had ceased (January). Sampling from mature fallow bucks was performed in the pre-rut (early October), in the rut (November) and after the reproduction period (January). The results obtained indicated significant ( P<0.001) fatty degeneration of the liver in the males at the rutting season. At that time the TL concentration ( x±S.D. in wet weight) was 156±40 g/kg in the red deer stags and 405±46 g/kg in the fallow bucks. Subsequent to the rutting season this value decreased to 47±15 g/kg by November in the red deer stags and to 51±3 g/kg by January in the fallow bucks. Significant changes were also observed in the fatty acid composition of the liver lipids, determined by gas chromatography. Liver samples collected during the rutting season from both red deer stags and fallow bucks showed higher ( P<0.001) total proportions of monounsaturated fatty acids and lower ( P<0.001) weight percentages of polyunsaturated fatty acids than those taken in January. In comparison with January the liver samples taken in September from red deer stags showed significantly higher ( P<0.001) proportions of fatty acids C14:0, C15:0 and C:16:1, and significantly lower ( P<0.001) proportions of C18:0, C20:4 ( n-6) and C22:5 ( n-3). The proportions of C14:0, C15:1, C17:1 and C18:3 ( n-3) in the liver samples taken in November from fallow bucks were higher ( P<0.001), while the proportions of C18:0 and C20:4 ( n-6) were lower ( P<0.001) than those measured prior to rutting (in October) or after the rut (in January).