INFLUENCE OF AGE ON TOTAL LIPIDS AND PHOSPHOLIPIDS OF TURKEY MUSCLE

SUMMARY Variation was noted in lipid and lipid fractions obtained from muscles of maturing turkeys. The lipid content of thigh muscles increased with advancing maturity, whereas breast muscle lipid remained constant throughout the test period. Total phospholipid levels showed no significant variation with age, but comprised a decreasing percentage of total lipid as bird age advanced. Of the individual phospholipids studied, phosphatidylethanolamine had an inverse relationship with age in both tissues studied. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine accounted for approximately 50 and 22%, respectively, of the total phospholipid. Lysophosphatidylcholine (5%), sphingomyelin (10%), phosphatidylinositol plus phosphatidylserine (10%) and other unidentified phospholipids comprised the remainder.