Neutral lipids of Ascaris lumbricoides with special reference to the esterified fatty acids

Lipids from muscle, cuticle and reproductive system of Ascaris lumbricoides were separately studied. Volatile and non-volatile acids of the neutral fats were analyzed by gas chromatography of their methyl esters. The volatile acids of the reproductive system were identified as acetic, propionic, α-methylbutyric, n-valeric and α-methylvaleric acids. Non-volatile acids were found to consist of mixtures of mainly C 12- through C 20-acids. Estimations of individual higher acids showed that their concentrations in the neutral fat from the various tissues are quite similar.