Identification of 4α-methylsterols in the oyster, Crassostrea virginica

Anatomical distribution of sterols in oysters (Crassostrea gigas)

Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) contain at least 8 predominant sterols as determined by gas liquid chromatography and a modified Liebermann-Burchard reaction. These sterols and the average amount found in mg/100 are: C26-sterol (22-trans-24-norcholesta-5, 22-diene-3 beta-ol), 19.1; 22-dehydrocholesterol, 15.1; cholesterol, 46.8; brassicasterol, 27.2; delta 5,7-sterols (i.e., 7-dehydrocholesterol) 22.5; 24-methylenecholesterol 29.1; 24-ethylcholesta-5,22-diene-3 beta-ol, 1.2; and 24-ethylcholesta-5-en-3 beta-ol, 12.7. The distribution of these sterols appears uniform (r2 = 0.938) between 5 major organs of the oyster. The percent body mass vs percent total sterols in these 5 organs are: mantle 44.1--41.4; visceral mass 30.3--36.7; gills 13.2--11.7; adductor muscle 8.3--3.7; and labial palps 4.2--6.5. The possible sources of these sterols are discussed.