Studies on Carbon-14 Tagged Fatty Acid Esters

Abstract

2182 RESEARCH NOTES ably and remained at the high values for at least 3 months after the surgical operation. SUMMARY Nine Wrolstad, Medium-White turkeys were colostomized at 14 weeks of age and water and feed intake and states of health were observed for a 2-month period. High rates of water turnover which occurred following surgery were maintained for the 2 months. Colonic impaction and megacolon occurred in 7 of the 9 turkeys. Frequent enemas were required, especially in the second month after surgery.Fatty acid containing the cyclopropene structure have been demonstrated to have profound physiological effects on rats and chickens. Salmon-colored yolks and pink whites result from cyclopropene-containing fatty acids in the diet of laying hens and rather high concentrations of the cyclopropene caused hens to cease laying. Other studies demonstrated that the presence of cyclopropene in the diet resulted in the death of the embryo in fertile eggs. Phelps et al. (1965) have prepared the most comprehensive review of the field to date. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE At the present time, our synthetic procedures have not been refined to the point where pure carbon-14 tagged methyl sterculate can be isolated. This study was conducted by feeding a mixture of a tagged synthetic methyl sterculate prepared by the procedures of Lind and Deutschman (1967) and Schlosser et al. (1968). REFERENCES Dicker, S. E., and J. Haslam, 1966. Water diuresis in the domestic fowl. J. Physiol. 183: 225-235. Dixon, J. M., 1958. Investigation of urinary water reabsorption in the cloaca and rectum of the hen. Poultry Sci. 37:410-414. Dziuk, H. E., O. A. Evanson and C. T. Larsen, 1969. Physiologic effects of fasting and bluecomb in turkeys. Am. J. Vet. Res. 30: 1045-1056. Korr, I. M., 1939. The osmotic function of the chicken kidney. J. Cell Comp. Physiol. 13: 175-193. Scheiber, A. R., and H. E. Dziuk, 1969. Water ingestion and excretion in turkeys with a rectal fistula. J. Appl. Physiol. 26: 277-281.In order to determine the effect of the tagged cyclopropene in this synthetic mixture on chickens, reference experiments were conducted. A portion of the synthetic mixture was used, but the methyl sterculate was isomerized by aluminum oxide . A third experiment, utilizing purchased tagged methyl oleate was also conducted. Comparison of the counts in the various organs, feces, carbon dioxide and other portions of the chickens permitted a number of observations regarding the metabolism and absorption of cyclopropene-containing fatty acids.Five month old White Leghorn chickens were fed three days with methyl-14-Csterculate, isomerized methyl sterculate and methyl oleate. The reagents used were placed in gelatin capsules as they were prepared or received. Each day a single capsule was fed to each experimental bird. A standard basal diet was fed and a total of six chickens were studied.