[Distribution of the fatty acids of the oyster C. gigas in different lipid fractions]

Extraction of oyster lipids were carried out on total wet organic tissues with a mixture of chloroform-methanol. The different fractions of polar and not polar lipids were separated by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and the methyl esters of the constituant fatty acids has been prepared by transmethylation a cold for use in subsequent gas-liquid chromatography (open tubular gas chromatography). The oyster contained considerable proportions of C16:0 and heiglhly unsaturated acids (specially in lecithin and cephalin) of C20, C22 series which are characteristic of the lipids of most acquatic plants and animals. Studies were made of the seasonal variations.