Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fatty acid profiles and relative mobilization during fasting in adipose tissue depots of the American marten (Martes americana)

  • Articles
  • Published:
Lipids

Abstract

The American marten (Martes americana) is a boreal forest marten with low body adiposity but high metabolic rate. The study describes the FA composition in white adipose tissue depots of the species and the influence of food deprivation on them. American marten (n=8) were fasted for 2 d with 7 control animals. Fasting resulted in a 13.4% weight loss, while the relative fat mass was >25% lower in the fasted animals. The FA composition of the fat depots of the trunk was quite similar to other previously studied mustelids with 14∶0, 16∶0, 18∶0, 16∶1n−7, 18∶1n−9, and 18∶2n−6 as the most abundant FA. In the extremities, there were higher proportions of monounsaturated FA (MUFA) and PUFA. Food deprivation decreased the proportions of 16∶0 and 16∶1n−7, while the proportion of long-chain MUFA increased in the trunk. The mobilization of FA was selective, as 16∶1n−7, 18∶1n−9, and particular n−3 PUFA were preferentially mobilized. Relative mobilization correlated negatively with the carbon chain length in saturated FA (SFA) and n−9 MUFA. The Δ9 desaturation of SFA enhanced the mobilization of the corresponding MUFA, but the positional isomerism of the first double bond did not correlate consistently with relative mobilization in MUFA or PUFA. In the marten, the FA composition of the extremities was highly resistant to fasting, and the tail tip and the paws contained more long-chain PUFA to prevent the solidification of lipids and to maintain cell membrane fluidity during cooling.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

BM:

body mass

BMI:

body mass index

DBI:

double bond index

DI:

desaturation index

dia:

diaphragmatic

jab:

intra-abdominal

mes:

mesenteric

MUFA:

monounsaturated FA

om:

omental

rp:

retroperitoneal

sc:

subcutaneous

SFA:

saturated FA

TACL:

total average chain length

UFA:

unsaturated FA

VLCFA:

very long chain FA

WAT:

white adipose tissue

References

  1. Anderson, E. (1970) Quaternary Evolution of the Genus Martes (Carnivora, Mustelidae), Acta Zool. Fennica 130, 1–132.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Buskirk, S.W. (1994) Introduction to the Genus Martes, in Martens, Sables and Fishers. Biology and Conservation (Buskirk, S.W., Harestad, A.S., Raphael, M.G., and Powell, R.A., eds.), pp. 1–12, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Gibilisco, C.J. (1994) Distributional Dynamics of Modern Martes in North America, in Martens, Sables and Fishers. Biology and Conservation (Buskirk, S.W., Harestad, A.S., Raphael, M.G., and Powell, R.A., eds.), pp. 59–71, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Buskirk, S.W., and Powell, R.A. (1994) Habitat Ecology of Fishers and American Martens, in Martens, Sables and Fishers. Biology and Conservation (Buskirk, S.W., Harestad, A.S., Raphael, M.G., and Powell, R.A., eds.), pp. 283–296, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Wilbert, C.J., Buskirk S.W., and Gerow, K.G. (2000) Effects of Weather and Snow on Habitat Selection by American Martens (Martes americana), Can. J. Zool. 78, 1691–1696.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Brown, J.H., and Lasiewski, R.C. (1972) Metabolism of Weasels: The Cost of Being Long and Thin, Ecology 53, 939–945.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Iversen, J.A. (1972) Basal Energy Metabolism of Mustelids, J. Comp. Physiol. 81, 341–344.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Gilbert, F.F., and Gofton, N. (1982) Heart Rate Values for Beaver, Mink and Muskrat, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A 73, 249–251.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Martin, S.K. (1994) Feeding Ecology of American Martens and Fishers, in Martens, Sables and Fishers, Biology and Conservation (Buskirk, S.W., Harestad, A.S., Raphael, M.G., and Powell, R.A., eds.), pp. 297–315, Cornell University Press Ithaca, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Harlow, H.J. (1994) Trade-offs Associated with the Size and Shape of American Martens, in Martens, Sables and Fishers. Biology and Conservation (Buskirk, S.W., Harestad, A.S., Raphael, M.G., and Powell, R.A., eds.), pp. 390–403, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Buskirk, S.W., and Harlow, H.J. (1989) Body-fat Dynamics of the American Marten (Martes americana) in Winter, J. Mammal. 70, 191–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Harlow, H.J., and Buskirk, S.W. (1991) Comparative Plasma and Urine Chemistry of Fasting White-Tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys leucurus) and American Martens (Martes americana): Representative Fat-and Lean-Bodied Animals, Physiol. Zool. 64, 1262–1278.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Harlow, H.J., and Buskirk, S.W. (1996) Amino Acids in Plasma of Fasting Fat Prairie Dogs and Lean Martens. J. Mammal. 77, 407–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Buskirk, S.W., Harlow, H.J., and Forrest, S.C. (1988) Temperature Regulation in American Marten in Winter, Nat. Geogr. Res. 4, 208–218.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Mustonen, A.-M., Pyykönen, T., Paakkonen, T., Ryökkynen, A., Asikainen, J., Aho, J., Mononen, J., and Nieminen, P. (2005) Adaptations to Fasting in the American Mink (Mustela vison): Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A 140, 195–202.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Rouvinen-Watt, K., White, M.B., and Campbell, R. (2005) Mink Feeds and Feeding, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, through the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario and the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Strickland, M.A., and Douglas, C.W. (1999) Marten, in Wild Furbearer Management and Conservation in North America (Novak, M., Baker, J.A., Obbard M.E., and Malloch, B., eds.), CD-ROM, pp. 530–546, Ontario Fur Managers Federation under license from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Queens Printer, Ontario, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Christie, W.W. (1993) Preparation of Ester Derivatives of Fatty Acids for Chromatographic Analysis, in Advances in Lipid Methodology—Two (Christie, W.W., ed.), pp. 69–111, Oily Press, Dundee.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Ackman, R.G. (1992) Application of Gas—Liquid Chromatography to Lipid Separation and analysis: Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis, in Fatty Acids in Foods and Their Health Implications (Chow, C.K., ed.), pp. 47–63, Marcel Dekker, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kates, M. (1986) Techniques of Lipidology: Isolation, Analysis and Identification of Lipids, 2nd edn., Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Käkelä, R., Ackman, R.G., and Hyvärinen, H. (1995) Very Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Blubber of Ringed Seals (Phoca hispida sp.) from Lake Saimaa, Lake Ladoga, the Baltic Sea, and Spitsbergen, Lipids 30, 725–731.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Buskirk, S.W. (1983) The Ecology of Marten in Southcentral Alaska. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Alaska, Fairbanks.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Mustonen, A.-M., Pyykönen, T., Aho, J., and Nieminen, P. (2006) Hyperthermia and Increased Physical Activity in the Fasting American Mink (Mustela vison), J. Exp. Zool. A 305, in press.

  24. Price, E.O. (1971) Effect of Food Deprivation on Activity of the Least Weasel J. Mammal. 52, 636–640.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Walker, B.L., and Lishchenko, V.F. (1966) Fatty Acid Composition of Normal Mink Tissues, Can. J. Biochem. 44, 179–185.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Rouvinen, K., and Kiiskinen, T. (1989) Influence of Dietary Fat Source on the Body Fat Composition of Mink (Mustela vison) and Blue Fox (Alopex lagopus), Acta Agric. Scand. 39, 279–288.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Käkelä, R. (1996) Fatty Acid Compositions in Subspecies of Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida) and Several Semiaquatic Mammals: Site-Specific and Dietary Differences, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Joensuu Joensuu, Finland.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Käkelä, R., and Hyvärinen, H. (1996) Site-specific Fatty Acid Composition in Adipose Tissues of Several Northern Aquatic and Terrestrial Mammals, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B 115, 501–514.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Kim, H.-Y., Bigelow, J., and Kevala, J.H. (2004) Substrate Preference in Phosphatidylserine Biosynthesis for Docosahexaenoic Acid Containing Species, Biochemistry 43, 1030–1036.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Kark, J.D., Kaufmann, N.A., Binka, F., Goldberger, N., and Berry, E.M. (2003) Adipose Tissue n−6 Fatty Acids and Acute Myocardial Infarction in a Population Consuming a Diet High in Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 77, 796–802.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Raclot, T., and Groscolas, R. (1995) Selective Mobilization of Adipose Tissue Fatty Acids During Energy Depletion in the Rat. J. Lipid Res. 36, 2164–2173.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Raclot, T., and Groscolas, R. (1993) Differential Mobilization of White Adipose Tissue Fatty Acids According to Chain Length, Unsaturation, and Positional Isomerism, J. Lipid Res. 34, 1515–1526.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Thompson, I.D. (1986) Diet Choice, Hunting Behaviour, Activity Patterns, and Ecological Energetics of Marten in Natural and Logged Areas, Ph.D. Dissertation, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant and Animal Sciences, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, B2N 5E3, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada

    Kirsti Rouvinen-Watt, Danielle Collins & Judy Grant

  2. Department of Biology, University of Joensuu, P.O. Box 111, FIN-80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Petteri Nieminen & Anne-Mari Mustonen

Authors
  1. Petteri Nieminen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kirsti Rouvinen-Watt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Danielle Collins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Judy Grant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Anne-Mari Mustonen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Petteri Nieminen.

About this article

Cite this article

Nieminen, P., Rouvinen-Watt, K., Collins, D. et al. Fatty acid profiles and relative mobilization during fasting in adipose tissue depots of the American marten (Martes americana). Lipids 41, 231–240 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-006-5092-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-006-5092-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation