EXAMINATION OF MUSCLE AND ERYTHROCYTE MEMBRANE LIPID COMPOSITION BY MEANS OF GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY ON MEAT TYPE RABBITS

The goal of our investigations was to achieve basic data on muscle and erythrocyte membrane lipid composition. Pannon White meat type rabbits were investigated at the age of 8 weeks when samples were taken from m. longissimus dorsi, m. quadriceps femoris and blood. Muscle fat content was extracted, blood cell membrane was isolated first and the fatty acids were methyl-estherified. Gas chromatography measurements centred on fatty acids from the carbon chain length of C14:0 to C20:4. Gas chromatography was carried out using fatty acid standards and the results were given in percentage of the total fat content. The results (average values) obtained were C14:0=2.47; C14:1=1.13; C15:0=0,37; C16:0=24.51; C17:0=0.43; C18:0=6.03; C18:1=27.51; C18:2=18,1; C18:3=3.69; C20:0=0.25; C20:4=3.0 for m.L.D., and C14:0=1.98; C15:0=0,36; C16:0=26.2; C17:0=0.44; C18:0=6.79; C18:1=21.13; C18:2=22.81; C18:3=2.36 and C20:4=5.35 for m.Q.F., respectively. The ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids was 1.85 in case of m.L.D., 1.71 by m.Q.F and 0.983 by blood samples. The data obtained can be used in further examinations, where we plan to follow the changes caused by long term physical load.