Fatty acid composition and lipid peroxidation induced by ascorbate-Fe2+ in different organs of goose (Anser anser).

Many reports have demonstrated that birds show a low degree of fatty acid unsaturation and lipid peroxidation compared with mammals of similar body size. The aim of the present study was to examine fatty acid profiles, non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation and vitamin E levels of mitochondria and microsomes obtained from liver, heart and brain of goose (Anser anser). The unsaturated fatty acid content found in mitochondria and microsomes of all tissues examined was approximately 60% with a prevalence of C18:1 n9 + C18:2 n6 = 50%. The 20:4 n6 + C22:6 n3 content was significantly higher in brain organelles (approx. 16%) compared with mitochondria and microsomes of liver and heart (approx. 4%). Whereas these organelles were not affected when subjected to lipid peroxidation, brain mitochondria were highly affected, as indicated by the increase in chemiluminescence and a considerable decrease of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids. These changes were not observed during lipid peroxidation of brain microsomes. Vitamin E content was higher in liver and heart than in brain mitochondria (1.77 +/- 0.06 and 1.93 +/- 0.13 vs. 0.91 +/- 0.09 nmol/mg protein). The main conclusion of this paper is that a lower degree of unsaturation of fatty acids in liver and heart mitochondria and a higher vitamin E level than in brain mitochondria protect those tissues against lipid peroxidation.