Fatty acids in female Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus (Acanthocephala).

Neutral lipids and phospholipids in the body wall, lemnisci and pseudocoel and neutral lipids of fluid found in the "tube" system of the lemnisci and the lacunar system of the body wall of Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus (Acanthocephala) were determined by the technique of thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography (GC). Sixteen different fatty acids from nonpolar lipids were identified as follows: 8:0, 10:0, 11:0, 12:0, 13:0, 14:0, 14:1, 16:0, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2 and/or 20:0, 18:3 and/or 20:1, 20:3, 22:1, 24:1 and 22:6. In addition, there were three unidentified GC peaks corresponding to chain lengths greater than 20 carbons. Sixteen different fatty acids from phospholipids were identified in each of the three fractions analyzed. They were as follows: 10:0, 11:0, 12:0, 13:0, 14:0, 14:1, 16:0, 16:1, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2 and/or 20:0, 20:2, 20:3, 22:1, 24:1 and 22:6. Four unidentified peaks were also observed. There was a significant difference in the percentage of lipid as well as the concentration of particular fatty acids when each fraction was compared. There was also an abundant supply of sterols and glycerides in each fraction.