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A comparison of the positional distribution of fatty acids in milk triglycerides of the extant monotremes platypus ( Ornithorhynchus anatinus ) and echidna ( Tachyglossus aculeatus )

1983; Wiley; Volume: 18; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1007/bf02534646

1558-9307

Peter W. Parodi, Mervyn Griffiths,

Animal Nutrition and Physiology

Abstract Milk triglycerides from the platypus were subjected to fatty acid and stereospecific analysis to determine the positional distribution of fatty acids in the triglycerides. Of the major fatty acids, 12∶0 was preferentially esterified at the sn ‐3 position, 14∶0 and 16∶0 were selectively associated with the sn ‐2 position, and 18∶0 was located predominantly at the sn ‐1 position. The unsaturated fatty acids, 14∶1, 16∶1, 18∶1, 18∶2 and 18∶3, were preferentially esterified at the sn ‐3 position. The fatty acid distribution pattern of the platypus, a monotreme, is similar to that of marsupials and eutherians but is in contrast to the only other extant monotreme, the echidna.