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Distribution of lipids from the yolk to the tissues during development of the water python (Liasis fuscus)

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Abstract

Energy metabolism during embryonic development of snakes differs in several respects from the patterns displayed by other reptiles. There are, however, no previous reports describing the main energy source for development, the yolk lipids, in snake eggs. There is also no information on the distribution of yolk fatty acids to the tissues during snake development. In eggs of the water python (Liasis fuscus), we report that triacylglycerol, phospholipid, cholesteryl ester and free cholesterol, respectively, form 70.3%, 14.1%, 5.7% and 2.1% of the total lipid. The main polyunsaturate of the yolk lipid classes is 18:2n-6. The yolk phospholipid contains 20:4n-6 and 22:6n-3 at 13.0% and 3.6% (w/w), respectively. Approximately 10% and 30% of the initial egg lipids are respectively recovered in the residual yolk and the fat body of the hatchling. A major function of yolk lipid is, therefore, to provision the neonate with large energy reserves. The proportion of 22:6n-3 in brain phospholipid of the hatchling is 11.1% (w/w): this represents only 0.24% of the amount of 22:6n-3 originally present in the egg. This also contrasts with values for free-living avian species where the proportion of DHA in neonatal brain phospholipid is 16–19%. In the liver of the newly hatched python, triacylglycerol, phospholipid and cholesteryl ester, respectively, form 68.2%, 7.7% and 14.3% of total lipid. This contrasts with embryos of birds where cholesteryl ester forms up to 80% of total liver lipid and suggests that the mechanism of lipid transfer in the water python embryo differs in some respects from the avian situation.

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Abbreviations

ARA :

arachidonic acid

DHA :

docosahexaenoic acid

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by an Australian Research Council Large Grant (to MBT) and by the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department (to BKS). Animals were collected and sent to Sydney under permits from the Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory and New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. Research was conducted with approval from the University of Sydney Animal Ethics Committee. We thank M. Louden and P. Harvey for help with maintaining the gravid snakes prior to oviposition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Avian Science Research Centre, SAC, Auchincruive, Ayr, KA6 5HW, UK

    B. K. Speake & F. E. Thacker

  2. School of Biological Sciences and Wildlife Research Institute, Zoology Building (A08), University of Sydney, 2006, NSW, Australia

    M. B. Thompson

  3. School of Biological Environmental and Chemical Sciences, Northern Territory University, 0909, Darwin, NT, Australia

    G. S. Bedford

Authors
  1. B. K. Speake
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  2. M. B. Thompson
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  3. F. E. Thacker
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  4. G. S. Bedford
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Correspondence to B. K. Speake.

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Communicated by G. Heldmaier

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Speake, B.K., Thompson, M.B., Thacker, F.E. et al. Distribution of lipids from the yolk to the tissues during development of the water python (Liasis fuscus). J Comp Physiol B 173, 541–547 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-003-0362-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-003-0362-8

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