Variations of fatty acid contents in selected tissues of freshwater mussel Corbicula fluminalis (Mollusca: Bivalvia) from Tigris River

Abstract

This paper describes the nutritive value and composition of total lipid fatty acids of some selected tissues (hepatopancreas, mantle, gills, foot and whole body) of freshwater mussel Corbicula fluminalis from Tigris River, southeastern Turkey. Gas chromatography device has been used to detect fatty acids. Twenty types of fatty acids were observed and C16:0, C18:0, C16:1 omega 7, C18:1 omega 9, C20:5 omega 3 and C22:6 omega 3 were found predominantly. Two biologically important fatty acids, C20:4 omega 6 and C20:5 omega 3 participating in sodium uptake in the gills and synthesizing process in the hepatopancreas were found high in the gills (7.99%) and hepatopancreas (10.41%), respectively. The highest level of Sigma MUFA was found in the foot (36.86%); however the highest level of Sigma PUFA was in the hematopancreas (39.07%) and gills (39.84%). In the tissues, highly unsaturated fatty acids such as C22:5 omega 6 and C22:6 omega 3 were gotten a considerable amount. Sigma omega 6 / Sigma omega 3 ratio was defined as 0.73 in the hepatopancreas, 1.01 in the gills, 1.20 in the mantle, 1.51 in the foot and 1.23 in whole body.