Seasonal changes in lipid composition during the reproductive cycle of the red-chinned lizard, Sceloporus undulatus erythrocheilus

Abstract

1. 1. Fatty-acid analyses of triacylglycerol from lizard fat bodies, ovarian eggs, oviductal eggs and liver through the reproductive cycle were performed by gas chromatography. 2. 2. Triacylglycerol comprised 88% of total lipids in fat bodies early in the reproductive season and declined to 66% following egg production. 3. 3. Predominant fatty acids in fat bodies, liver and ovarian eggs were myristic (14:0), palmitic (16:0), oleic (18:0) and linoleic ( 18:2n-6) acids. 4. 4. Oviductal eggs had little myristic but had an additional predominate type, linolenic ( 18:3n-3).