On the differential lipolytic capabilities of heart kidney, testis and spleen for young adult guinea pig. A chromatographic study

Abstract

We have recently reported the preferential deacylation of cardiolipin (CL) in a variety of mammalian myocardia and pectoral muscle of some birds by endogenous phospholipases (PLA1 and/or PLA2) during in vitro incubation at pH 7.4 and 38°C for 60 minutes of whole tissue homogenate (as source of phospholipids and phospholipases) with production of monolysocardiolipin (MLCL) and concurrent reduction of CL. In contrast, whole tissue homogenate of rat spleen treated similarly selectively deacylated ethanolamine plasmalogen (PE) producing lyso alkenyl PE.In the present study, we conducted in vitro incubation of whole tissue homogenate of guinea pig heart, kidney, testis and spleen at pH 7.4 and 38°C for 60 minutes. Subsequent TLC (thin layer chromatography) analysis revealed: a) a noticeable high level of MLCL and a very low level of CL in control testis, b) guinea pig heart and kidney revealed a high level of CL and no MLCL was detected. MLCL was only produced (in both heart and kidney) subsequent to in vitro incubation, c) very low level of CL was shown in control sample of guinea pig spleen and no MLCL was produced, d) guinea pig heart has both ethanolamine (PE) and choline plasmalogens (PC). PE plasmalogen is the only alkenyl species present in guinea pig kidney, testes and spleen.These data raised some questions pertaining to the lipolytic capabilities of diverse tissues and will be discussed in details.