HPLC Determination of Cholesterol Esters in the Digestive Gland-Gonad Complex of Biomphalaria Glabrata Snails Fed Hen's Egg Yolk Versus Leaf Lettuce

HPLC was used to analyze cholesterol esters in the digestive gland-gonad (DGG) complex of Biomphalaria glabrata snails fed leaf lettuce or hen's egg yolk. the lettuce and yolk were also analyzed for cholesterol esters. Trace amounts of cholesteryl linolenate and/or arachidonate were found in lettuce and the DGG of snails fed lettuce. Cholesteryl oleate, cholesteryl arachidonate and/or linolenate, cholesteryl palmitate, and cholesteryl linoleate were the major cholesterol esters in both egg yolk and the DGG of yolk-fed snails, but the percentage composition of each ester was markedly different in both populations.