Fatty Acid Compositions of Oocytes, Follicular, Oviductal and Uterine Fluids of Pig and Cow

Abstract

The fatty acid compositions of oocytes, follicular, oviductal and uterine fluids of pig and cow were analyzed using gas chromatography, Myristic (C 14: 0), palmitic (C 16:0), palmitoleic (C 16:1), stearic (C 18 :0), oleic (C 18:1), linoleic (C 18:2), linolenic (C 18:3) and arachidonic (C 20: 4) acids were identified as the common fatty acid constituents with little exception. Oleic acid composition was the highest (21.90 to 36.24%) in both pig and cow followed by palmitic (18.61 to 31.90%) and stearic (10.34 to 20.39%) acid. The three polyunsaturated fatty acids like linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acids were detected in both pig and cow reproductive fluid samples. Myristic acid was not detected in pig oviductal fluid. Similarly, in cow oocytes myristic, palmitoleic and linolenic acids were not detected. Moreover, palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acid comprised about 80% (73.74 to 88.00%) of the total fatty acids in the different samples analyzed in both animals.