Comparison of fatty acid profiles of different tissues of mature trout (Salmo trutta labrax, Pallas, 1811) caught from Kazandere creek in the Coruh region, Erzurum, Turkey

The fatty acid (FA) composition of some tissues of Salmo trutta labrax, Pallas, 1811 mature native freshwater wild salmon species caught from Kazandere creek in the Coruh region in Turkey were investigated. Fatty acids profiles of muscle, liver, gonad, egg and adipose tissue were compared in terms of total and individual saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. The results showed that the highest total saturated fatty acid content was in the muscle (37.20 +/- 1.13%) while the lowest value was in the egg (27.12 +/- 2.53%), and the differences were significant (P 0.05) for the tissues but n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the egg (48.09 +/- 9.37%) compared to in the other tissues. However, the lowest n-3 PUFA content was determined in the gonads (23.88 +/- 5.41%) and statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed among the tissues. Similar results were also determined for n-6 PUFA content in the eggs (6.46 +/- 1.02%), and the n-3/n-6 ratio was significant for the tissues tested. The principal fatty acids of the tissues of the trout were 16:0, 18:1n-9c and 22:6n-3, and their ratios in the tissues were significantly different (P < 0.01). Finally, it is hypothesized that the high altitude of the catching environment might affect the fatty acid profile of the fish studied, and there is a great deal of potential to produce food fishes rich in n-3 PUFA content