Phosphatidylcholine levels and their fatty acid compositions in teleost tissues and squid muscle

Abstract

The lipid content and composition of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and fatty acids were determined in tissues (muscle, liver, heart and gonads) of 27 species of teleosts. We also measured PC and fatty acids in muscle of 6 species of squid. Contents of phospholipid and PC in the muscle tissue ranged between 0.54 and 0.94%, 0.30 and 0.72%, respectively. Muscular PC was dominant in surf smelt, filefish, lizard fish, white croaker, counting for 75–82% of muscular phospholipid, Pacific salmon, Pacific pomfret, pollack and plaice had 24–32% phosphatidylethanolamine which was considerably higher than the other sample fishes. Species specificity of n−6 and n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) distribution in the muscular PC was noted: coastal and reef dwelling fish species contained higher proportions of n−6 PUFA, while a higher content of n−3 PUFA was characteristic for the migratory teleosts.