Seasonal variations in the fatty acid profiles of the liver and muscle of Squalius cephalus (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) living in Tödürge Lake (Sivas, Turkiye)

In this study, seasonal variations in the fatty acid profiles of the liver and muscle of Squalius cephalus from Tödürge Lake were determined by Gas Chromatography (GC). C22:6 n-3, C20:5 n-3, C20:4 n-6, C18:1 n-9, C18:1 n-7, C16:1 n-7, C18:0 and C16:0 were the principal fatty acids showing the highest levels in the muscle and liver of Squalius cephalus in all seasons. Although C22:6 n-3, which is regarded as the most important polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), were found to be high in the spring (17.37%) and summer (20.45%) in the liver, the percentages of this acid changed between 15.10% (winter) and 17.77% (spring) in the muscle. In all seasons, total unsaturated fatty acids (n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated plus monounsaturated fatty acids) of the muscle tissue were found to be between 60-70%. Based on these results, S. cephalus is a good food resource in terms of feeding with unsaturated fatty acids in all seasons, especially C22:6 n-3.