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Sterols of the Cephalopod Spirula Spirula

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

James A. Ballantine ,
John C. Roberts  and
Robert J. Morris
James A. Ballantine
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Institute of Marine Studies, University College of Swansea, Wales
John C. Roberts
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Institute of Marine Studies, University College of Swansea, Wales
Robert J. Morris
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, Wormley, Surrey
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Extract

The sterol biochemistry of the highly advanced molluscan class – the cephalopods – is poorly understood. Few analyses of their component sterols have been published in which GC-MS has been employed (Voogt, 1973; Idler et al. 1978; ApSimon & Burnell, 1980) and these have only involved 5 species.

From the available data the cephalopods appear to have a much simpler sterol make-up than the other less-advanced molluscs. Cholesterol appears to be easily the predominant sterol (ca. 90%) with minor amounts of up to 10 other common marine sterols. Of the species analysed, four (Sepia officinalis, Octopus vulgaris, Eledone aldrovandi and Illex illecebrosus) had a very similar major and minor sterol composition. Only the more primitive Nautilus sp. (Idler et al. 1978) had a noticeably different minor sterol composition.

Voogt (1973) reported cephalopods to be able to synthesise sterols though molluscs generally appear only to be able to carry out this biosynthesis slowly (Goad, 1978). Cephalopods are extremely active carnivores and thus would be expected to have a diverse diet. If their component sterols are of a dietary origin, a considerable variation in their minor sterol composition might be expected on the basis of the range in sterol composition reported for pelagic organisms (e.g. Morris & Culkin, 1977), many of which may be possible dietary components.

Detailed knowledge however of cephalopod diets is limited. Quite apart from the fact that healthy specimens are rarely caught in nets, those that are caught often feed voraciously on the other organisms trapped in the net prior to being brought on board for examination.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 61 , Issue 4 , November 1981 , pp. 843 - 850
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1981

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