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In vitro studies of the metabolism of [14C]-n-alkanes using ruminal fluid of sheep as substrate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2008

A. Keli ,
R. W. Mayes  and
A. de Vega
A. Keli
Affiliation:
The Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Universidad de Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
R. W. Mayes
Affiliation:
The Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK
A. de Vega*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Universidad de Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
*
E-mail: avega@unizar.es
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Abstract

Whether the rumen microbes are able to synthesize and/or degrade long-chain alkanes in anaerobic conditions remains a question to be answered before these hydrocarbons can be confidently used as duodenal flow or rumen transit markers. In this context, an experiment in vitro was carried out to establish whether within a rumen liquor fermentation system, n-alkanes can be derived from de-waxed structures of the plant or from non-alkane wax components (long-chain fatty alcohols, long-chain fatty acids and esters), or may be metabolized by bacteria to other components or to shorter-chain hydrocarbons. Ryegrass was labelled with 14C in growth chambers under controlled conditions in order to use it as a substrate. The labelled material obtained was separated in three fractions: labelled alkanes, labelled de-waxed plant and labelled wax components without the alkanes. These fractions were used for three different incubations in vitro, which objectives were as follows: 1. To check whether rumen bacteria can synthesize alkanes from carbon structures other than waxes (e.g. sugars). 2. To verify whether rumen bacteria can metabolize the n-alkanes to other compounds. 3. To check whether rumen bacteria can synthesize n-alkanes from other carbon compounds from waxes. The results showed that there was neither bacterial synthesis nor metabolism of the n-alkanes in in vitro conditions.

Keywords

in vitrometabolismn-alkanesrumen bacteria

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Full Paper
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animal , Volume 2 , Issue 12 , December 2008 , pp. 1748 - 1752
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2008

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