Effect of moderate wintertime undernutrition on fatty acid composition of adipose tissues of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.)

We studied the effect of moderate undernutrition on the fatty acid composition of adipose tissues in reindeer calves (<1 year) between early winter and late spring. Calves studied in early winter (December) had grazed on natural pastures and were in good condition, while the calves in spring (April) had been maintained on a negative energy balance since December, had lost approximately 16% of body weight and were in a moderate undernutritional state. The fatty acid composition of total lipids in adipose tissues (perirenal-abdominal, peristernal, scapular, intralumbar, and caudal locations) had a high proportion of oleic acid (35-47%) in both seasons. The proportion of oleic acid was significantly lower (29%), and that of palmitic acid (31%) was higher in the adipose tissue of cardiac groove as compared to other locations. There were only small differences in the fatty acid composition of adipose tissues between early winter and spring. However, the proportions of the principal C18-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid, were significantly lower in all adipose tissues in calves in poor than in good condition. The observations suggest that linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids may be selectively mobilized from adipose tissues of undernourished reindeer during winter.