Fatty acid profile of normal and imposex Thais carinifera (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Karachi coast, Pakistan

Fatty acids (FAs) profile of prosobranchneogastropod species Thais cariniferawas analyzed. Morphologically tested imposex, normal female and male individuals of Thais carinifera were examined and variation in fatty acid profiles among all three target groups was investigated in digestive gland/ gonad complex by using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. A total of 39 compounds were detected with a number of carbons C14 to C24 in all sex categories. A clear variable percentile difference in components of saturated (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), n-6 polyunsaturated (n-6 PUFA) and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) was encountered in males, females and imposex samples. Increasing levels of MUFA and PUFA were observed in imposex females as compared to other target groups.