The Concentrations of Lipids in the Adrenal Cortical Tissue of Genetically Different Types of Cattle

Abstract

The concentrations of lipids in the plasma and adrenal cortical tissue were compared in British (Bos taurus) and Zebu (Brahman cross and Africander cross) cattle. Plasma cholesterol and phospho-lipid concentrations were higher (P < 0'001) in Zebu than in British animals. In grazing steers the adrenal cholesterol concentrations were higher (P < 0'01) in Zebu than in British steers but phospholipid concentrations were lower (P < 0'01) in Brahman cross than in Africander cross and British animals. The correlations between the concentrations of cholesterol in plasma and adrenal glands were significant. In Zebu steers on different dietary treatments the concentrations of choles-terol and phospholipid were higher (P < 0'01) and triglyceride lower (P < 0·01) in the adrenal tissue of steers growing normally than of steers losing weight. The adrenal to body weight ratios were lower (P < 0'01) in Brahman cross than in Africander cross and British grazing animals.