Lindane distribution and fatty acid profiles of uropygial gland and liver of Columba livia after pesticide treatment

In the study reported here the effect of lindane accumulation and its effect on fatty acid composition and lipid content of the uropygial grand and liver of the rock dove, Columba livia, was studied. There were no alterations in the weight, lipid content, and fatty acid composition of the grand when the lindane and control groups were compared. The insecticide was not present in the gland of control birds; however, it was found in the lindane group, 12.6 mu g/mg lipid. The liver weight of the lindane-exposed group increased significantly when compared with control groups. Lindane was not detected in the liver. Lipid content Liver in lindane-exposed doves was approximately 2-4 times higher than in control birds. No significant differences in the fatty acid composition of the total lipids of the gland were observed. The major difference in the fatty acid profile of liver lipids was found in the arachidonic acid (20:4) contents; this increase was significantly higher in the lindane group than in the control group. We found marked differences when the unsaturation index of fatty acids isolated from gland and liver were compared. Our results seem to suggest that the uropygial gland could be considered as an indicator of specific accumulation of the pesticide. (C) 1998 Academic Press.