Comparison of fatty acid patterns of polar and neutral lipid classes and cyclo-oxygenase activity in taste and non-taste epithelium of steer tongues.

Epithelial tissues and papilla from several regions of the steer tongue were isolated and the fatty acids from each lipid class in the polar and neutral fractions were assayed. The observed profiles indicated regional differences. Arachidonic acid and other fatty acids containing long carbon chains (greater than 22) were found in all tissues sampled, particularly in the phosphatidyls of the inositols, ethanolamines, cholines, and in the cholesterylesters. Production of prostaglandin E2 was measured through cyclo-oxygenase activity and the presence of plasmalogens was observed in the phosphatidylethanolamine and choline fractions. Higher rates of PGE2 synthesis and greater amounts of plasmologens were found in taste-related epithelial samples compared to lingual epithelial control samples not containing taste buds. The heterogeneity of patterns of lipids and fatty acids found in the epithelium of the tongue suggests possible zonal specialization to satisfy regional physiological needs.