Constancy of liver lipid composition in two genera of toads after a short-term temperature acclimation

The lipid and fatty acid composition of Bufo calamytes and Alytes obstetricans livers has been studied. Data for both species are similar, and resemble closely those published for Rana sculenta. Total lipids constitute 20-25% of the total liver dry weight; about one fifth of these are phospholipids; cholesterol makes up 1.7-2.2% of the total liver dry weight. The most abundant phospholipids are phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. The various lipid cases differ in their fatty acid composition: neutral lipids contain high proportions of palmitoleic and linoleic acids; phosphatidylcholine is characterized by its contents in palmitic acid, whereas cardiolipin contains polyunsaturated fatty acids. Thermal acclimation of toads for 96 h produces but few changes in liver lipid composition.