In order to ascertain the origin and function of iso-valeric acid in dolphin oil, the fatty acid composition of oil obtained from
Stenella attenuata was studied by gasliquid chromatography, especially with the consideration of the differences occurring in various parts of the body but also in the various stages of development. The results obtained are as follows:
1) Degrees of unsaturation of blubber oils of the foetus and nurseling were remarkably lower than that of the adult.
2) The content of short-chain fatty acids (C
2-C
6) varied according to the stage of development and the part of the body.
3) Most of the short-chain fatty acids consisted of iso-valeric acid in the adult, but in the nurseling or foetus, iso-butyric acid or
n-butyric acid was also adundant, next to iso-valeric acid.
4) Long-chain fatty acids (C
10-C
22) contained many branched-chain fatty acids of the iso-series, which were the most abundant in jaw oil of the adult and nurseling and in head oil of the foetus. The content of branched-chain fatty acids of the iso-series in blubber oil was poor in all stages.
5) Of the branched-chain fatty acids of the iso-series, iso 15:0 was highest in the adult, and iso 16:0 was equal to or higher than iso 15:0 in the nurseling and foetus.
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