The gill lipids of spawning Pacific salmon.

The gill phospholipids of 2 Pacific salmon species, Oncorhynchus keta and O gorbuscha, were composed of 38-43% phosphatidylcholine (PC) and 19-22% phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Ether phosphoglycerides constituted 4-8% of the total PC fraction and 37-51% of the PE fraction. No significant changes in gill phospholipids were observed between those of pre-spawning fish in sea water and those of spawned salmon in the river. Cholesterol, however, was higher in the latter (0.59% vs 0.38%).