Characterization and Quantification of the Polar Lipids in the Lizard Uta stansburiana by HPTLC-Densitometry

Abstract

Silica gel high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) with chloroform-methanol-water (65:25:4) mobile phase and cupric sulfate-phosphoric acid detection reagent was used to characterize and quantify various polar lipid classes in organs (livers, abdominal fat bodies, and tails) of 6 male and 6 female side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana) with a range of body sizes (from young-of-the-year to adult). The percentage of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), sphingomyelin, sulfatides, and cerebrosides (C) in each organ was determined. No significant statistical differences were detected between the sexes. Across all three organs, PC was the primary polar lipid class, and the liver contained the most polar lipids. C was the most prevalent polar lipid class in the liver, PC in the tail, and PC and PE in the abdominal fat body. This is the first report of the use of TLC or HPTLC with densitometry to analyze polar lipids in lizard samples.

Keywords:

• High-performance thin-layer chromatography
• HPTLC
• Lipids
• Organs
• Side-blotched lizards

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors acknowledge Kathy Flanery for lodging during field work and Mary Rollyson for help in maintaining animals in captivity. Travel by P. Zani was supported by the Lafayette College Biology Department Stableford endowment. J. Counihan was supported by the Lafayette College EXCEL Scholars program. This study was approved by the Lafayette College Animal Care and Use Committee.

Notes

^a N.D.= Not detected (no visible chromatographic zone).

^b N.Q.= Below limits of quantification.