AGE-CLASS DIFFERENCES IN LIPIDS FROM THE PARACLOACAL GLANDS OF THE AMERICAN ALLIGATOR (ALLIGATOR-MISSISSIPPIENSIS)

The paracloacal gland secretions of immature and adult American alliga tors (Alligator mississippiensis) from Louisiana were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectr oscopy to investigate age-class differences in lipid composition. The secretions of both immature and adult alligators contain saturated C-1 4 and C-16 free fatty acids and decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, a nd hexadecyl acetates. Compounds observed only in immature alligators include dodecanoic acid, C-12 and C-14 alcohols, C-10-C-14 butanoates, an array of C-8-C-18 3-methylbutanoates, C-12-C-15 hexanoates, C-12 a nd C-14 octanoates, a C-12 decanoate, C-10-C-14 dodecanoates, C-10-C-1 6 tetradecanoates, C-12 and C-14 hexadecanoates, a C-12 octadecanoate, and a diterpene hydrocarbon identified as 5-trimethyl-3-methylenehexa deca-1,6,10,14-tetraene (beta-springene). Compounds observed only in a dults include several C-7-C-16 free fatty acids and certain C-10-C-18 acetates. The age-class differences we observe in the paracloacal glan d lipids of alligators from Louisiana are similar to those previously reported for alligators from Texas.