CHANGES IN LIPID-CONTENT, FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION AND LIPOPROTEIN-LIPASE ACTIVITY IN DRY GOAT OMENTAL ADIPOSE-TISSUE ACCORDING TO TISSUE SITE

Water and lipid contents, fatty acid distribution, and lipoprotein lipase activity were determined in 11 samples taken from the Omentum Majus of five dry Alpine goats. Samples were chosen to standardize sampling sites using geometric guide marks representative of different adipose tissue sites. Sample location explained between 20% and 30% of the total variance in water and lipid contents and in lipoprotein lipase activity, and from 5.5% to 45.4% of the total variance in fatty acid distribution. Increased sample thickness was associated with an increase in lipid content and in saturated fatty acid percentages. Samples taken in proximity of the omentum tissue attached to the rumen and abomasum had the highest content. We furthermore found that the levels of 18:2n-6, 18:1n-7, and of branched chain fatty acids were high close to a pila of the rumen which also corresponded to high lipoprotein lipase activity. Concomitant high levels of 16:1n-7, 17:1n-8, and 18:1n-9 may reflect high levels of DELTA-9 desaturase activity.