Comparative lipid patterns in acoustical and nonacoustical fatty tissues of dolphins, porpoises and toothed whales

Litchfield, Carter; Greenberg, Anne J.; Caldwell, David K.; Caldwell, Melba C.; Šipoš, Ján; Ackman, R. G.

doi:10.1016/0305-0491(75)90095-4

Cited by 48 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The two question marks indicate that it is not known whether the Platanistidae are able to synthesize waxes, and that the composition of waxes found in the acoustic tissues of Monodontidae and Phocoenidae remain undetermined. Litchfield and Greenberg, 1974;Litchfield et al, 1975;Koopman and Westgate, 2012; H.N.K., unpublished data…”

Section: Lipids In the Acoustic Fatsmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…TAG, triacylglycerol. Data are from Litchfield et al (1975Litchfield et al ( , 1976 and Koopman (2007).…”

Section: Waxes In the Blubber Of Toothed Whalesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gill and Tucker (1930) confirmed the structure as isovaleric acid in Tursiops, and Lovern (1934) noticed that levels of i-5:0 varied tremendously between tissues, with high levels in the acoustic fats, detectable levels in the blubber, and none in the heart, lungs and liver of Phocoena. A flurry of activity in the 1970s (see Ackman et al, 1971Ackman et al, , 1973Ackman et al, , 1975Litchfield et al, 1975Litchfield et al, , 1976Varanasi et al, 1975) led to the characterization of acoustic lipids in a wider range of species, and the phylogenetic patterns of unusual lipids recognized today.…”

Section: Lipids In the Acoustic Fatsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…i-5:0 Litchfield and Greenberg, 1974;Litchfield et al, 1975 Delphinus delphis Morris, 1973Morris, , 1975Litchfield and Greenberg, 1974 The presence of wax esters, and the dominant fatty acids and alcohols are summarized by family; only species for which data exist have been included. Dashes indicate an absence of data.…”

Section: -22%mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Function and evolution of specialized endogenous lipids in toothed whales

Koopman

2018

Journal of Experimental Biology

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The Odontocetes (toothed whales) possess two types of specialized fat and, therefore, represent an interesting group when considering the evolution and function of adipose tissue. All whales have a layer of superficial blubber, which insulates and streamlines, provides buoyancy and acts as an energy reserve. Some toothed whales deposit large amounts of wax esters, rather than triacylglycerols, in blubber, which is unusual. Waxes have very different physical and physiological properties, which may impact blubber function. The cranial acoustic fat depots serve to focus sound during echolocation and hearing. The acoustic fats have unique morphologies; however, they are even more specialized biochemically because they are composed of a mix of endogenous waxes and triacylglycerols with unusual branched elements (derived from amino acids) that are not present in other mammals. Both waxes and branched elements alter how sound travels through a fat body; they are arranged in a 3D topographical pattern to focus sound. Furthermore, the specific branched-chain acid/alcohol synthesis mechanisms and products vary phylogenetically (e.g. dolphins synthesize lipids from leucine whereas beaked whales use valine). I propose that these specialized lipids evolved first in the head: wax synthesis first emerged to serve an acoustic function in toothed whales, with branched-chain synthesis adding additional acoustic focusing power, and some species secondarily retained wax synthesis pathways for blubber. Further research is necessary to elucidate specific molecular mechanisms controlling the synthesis and deposition of wax esters and branched-chain fatty acids, as well as their spatial deposition within tissues and within adipocytes.

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Section: Lipids In the Acoustic Fatsmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…TAG, triacylglycerol. Data are from Litchfield et al (1975Litchfield et al ( , 1976 and Koopman (2007).…”

Section: Waxes In the Blubber Of Toothed Whalesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Lipids In the Acoustic Fatsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: -22%mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Function and evolution of specialized endogenous lipids in toothed whales

Koopman

2018

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…The melon (in the forehead) and mandibular fats (in and around the lower jaws) are assumed to play roles in transmission and reception, respectively, of sound ( Norris 1968;Morris 1986). The 'acoustic' tissues are composed primarily of suites of short-and branched-chain fatty acids (FA) not found in adipose tissues of other mammals (Litchfield et al 1975;. In most vertebrates, the lipid composition of adipose tissue reflects input from both dietary and endogenous sources, with the dominant source depending on many factors, including age class, nutritional status and seasonal foraging patterns (Pond 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life history constrains biochemical development in the highly specialized odontocete echolocation system

Koopman

Zahorodny

2008

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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The vertebrate head has undergone enormous modification from the features borne by early ancestors. The growth of skull bones has been well studied in many species, yet little is known about corresponding soft tissue development. Among mammals, some of the most unusual examples of cranial evolution exist in the toothed whales (odontocetes). Specialized fat bodies in toothed whale heads play important roles in sound transmission and reception. These fat bodies contain unique endogenous lipids, with favourable acoustic properties, arranged in highly organized, three-dimensional patterns. We link variation in developmental rates of acoustic fats with life-history strategy, using bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises. Porpoise acoustic fats attain adult configurations earlier (less than 1 year) and at a faster pace than dolphins. The accelerated lipid accumulation in porpoises reflects the earlier need for fully functional echolocation systems. Dolphins enjoy 3-6 years of maternal care; porpoises must achieve total independence by approximately nine months. Further, a stereotypic 'blueprint' for the spatial distribution of lipids is established prior to birth, demonstrating the highly conserved nature of the intricate biochemical arrangement in acoustic tissues. This system illustrates an unusual case of soft tissue development being constrained by life history, rather than the more commonly observed mechanistic or phyletic constraints.

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Marine Mammal Oils

Shahidi

Zhong

2005

Bailey's Industrial Oil and Fat Products

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Marine oils are obtained from the flesh of fatty fish, liver of lean white fish, and blubber of marine mammals. Although lipids from marine fish have been used as food and medicine, traditional uses of blubber lipids of marine mammals were mostly industrially oriented, except for Innus and Eskimos. Marine mammal oils were lubricants or “train” oils as well as fuel and used for lighting. However, recent research findings on the importance of long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFA) in human health have opened new channels for their value‐added use in food and pharmaceutical industries. During the last three decades, it has been established that Greenland Eskimos living on their traditional diet have a lower incidence of coronary heart disease than do Danes living on a western‐style diet. It has been recognized that polyunsaturated fatty acids could be useful in controlling serum triacylglycerols, but the fatty acids provided by the food industry were often of the ω6 family.

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Comparative lipid patterns in acoustical and nonacoustical fatty tissues of dolphins, porpoises and toothed whales

Cited by 48 publications

References 26 publications

Function and evolution of specialized endogenous lipids in toothed whales

Function and evolution of specialized endogenous lipids in toothed whales

Life history constrains biochemical development in the highly specialized odontocete echolocation system

Marine Mammal Oils

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