Distribution of hydrocarbons in bovine tissues

Abstract

Liver, heart, kidneys, muscle and adipose (perirenal and subcutaneous) tissues were collected from six animals for analysis of their hydrocarbon composition. Qualitative and quantitative determinations were carried out by gas chromatography and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Although differing in the proportions, a homologous series of n-alkanes ranging from n-C12 to n-C31 was found in all the samples examined. The isoprenoid hydrocarbons phytane and phytene (phy-1-ene and phyt-2-ene) were also identified.

Effect of duration of the Montanera diet on the hydrocarbon fraction of intramuscular lipids from Iberian dry‐cured ham; characterization by gas chromatography

“…In contrast, previous studies have shown a significant effect of diet on the n ‐alkane content of subcutaneous fat samples from Iberian dry cured hams where the n ‐alkane content was higher in the Montanera group than in the Concentrate Feed group 19. A possible reason for these differences could be the higher tendency of subcutaneous fat to deposit n ‐alkanes than intramuscular lipids 30. However, although pigs raised extensively for longer periods presumably consumed more pasture, in this study this was not associated with a significant increase in n ‐alkane content in the final hams.…”

Determination of neophytadiene in the subcutaneous fat of Iberian pigs from different feeding systems

“…In the literature, several authors have reported the same problems in identifying some of the branched hydrocarbons in many animal tissues (Bastic et al, 1989;Berdagué and García, 1990;García et al, 1991;Petrón et al, 2005). The existence of branched hydrocarbons in bovine (Lintas et al, 1979) and pig (Bastic et al, 1989;Bernardini et al, 1982) tissues have been reported. Berdagué and García (1990) analyzed volatiles in drycured hams and found a number of branched hydrocarbons, while branched hydrocarbons of low molecular weight were isolated from Iberian drycured ham by García et al (1991) and Ruiz et al (1999).…”

“…The split ratio was 1:25, inlet pressure 14 psi, and the injected volume was 2 µL. The mass spectrometer operated in the electron impact mode with an electron energy of 70 eV, a multiplier voltage of Determination of neophytaDiene in the subcutaneous fat of iberian pigs from Different feeDing systems is a branched hydrocarbon belonging to the group of compounds known as phytanes, and is abundant in plant cuticular waxes (Lintas et al, 1979). Other authors, using HPLC technique for the purification of the hydrocarbon fraction, followed by GCMS 2 , suggest that this compound is an isomeric form of neophytadiene (Gamero et al, 2006).…”

“…Both nalkanes and nalkenes were identified, being nalkenes of even chain between nC 12:1 and nC 20:1 the most abundant, followed by the correspondent nalkanes, in accordance with the results obtained by Gamero et al (2006) in subcutaneous fat, and by Petrón et al (2004) in intramuscular lipids from Iberian drycured ham. Hydrocarbons are preferentially concentrated in subcutaneous adipose tissues, followed by perirrenal and intramuscular fat (Lintas et al, 1979). Evennumbered (enca) and oddnumbered carbon atoms (onca) nalkane in the nC 12 to nC 33 range were present in the unsaponifiable fraction of subcutaneous fat.…”

“…Hydrocarbons are inert in the digestive tract and are little modified during digestion and metabolism (Mayes et al, 1988;Rembold et al, 1989); however, they are absorbed at low doses by the mammalian small intestine (Tulliez and Bories, 1975) and the absortion decreases with the increase of chain length of the hydrocarbons (Mayes and Lamb, 1984). Several authors have described saturated, unsaturated and branched hydrocarbons in ruminant animal tissues (Bandurski and Nagi, 1975;Lintas et al, 1979). In monogastric animals, like the Iberian pig, nalkanes (parafinic hydrocarbons) and nalkenes, from nC 12 to nC 33 have been identified in subcutaneous Gamero et al, 2006) and intramuscular (Tejeda et al, 2001a) fat, with the odd numbered carbon chains being the most abundant.…”