鱼类高度不饱和脂肪酸合成的影响因素及其机理

由于海水鱼类的高度不饱和脂肪酸(HUFA)合成能力一般缺乏或很弱,所以其配合饲料中需要添加较高比例富含HUFA的鱼油才能满足其正常生理功能的需要。随着鱼油资源的日益紧缺,研究者们试图寻找提高鱼体内源性HUFA合成能力的方法或途径,以提高配合饲料中植物油替代鱼油的比例,而HUFA合成调控机制的阐明将有助于达到此目的。本文着重介绍影响鱼类HUFA生物合成的主要因素及其作用机理,包括不同脂肪源、日粮中n-3/n-6多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)比例、维生素和矿物质等营养因子,温度、盐度、光周期等环境因子,以及转录因子、激素与遗传因子等,以期为鱼类HUFA合成调控机制的深入研究提供参考。     

豆油替代鱼油对圆斑星鲽幼鱼生长和肌肉脂肪酸的影响

本实验旨在研究饲料中豆油替代鱼油对圆斑星鲽(Verasper variegatus)幼鱼生长和肌肉脂肪酸组成的影响。用豆油分别替代0、25%、50%和75%的鱼油,配制4组等氮、等脂肪的饲料。选择初始体重为(65.47±1.57)g的圆斑星鲽幼鱼360尾,随机分为4组,每组3个重复,每个重复30尾鱼,养殖56 d。结果显示,(1)随着豆油替代水平的升高,增重率(WGR)呈现降低的趋势(P0.05),饲料系数(FCR)呈现升高的趋势(P0.05),25%替代组的WGR高于鱼油组(P0.05)。(2)豆油替代鱼油对圆斑星鲽肌肉的粗蛋白、粗脂肪、灰分和水分含量无显著性影响(P0.05),对肝体比(HSI)、脏体比(VSI)和肥满度(CF)无显著性影响(P0.05),豆油替代组肝脏的脂肪含量显著高于鱼油组(P0.05)。(3)随着饲料中豆油水平的增加,圆斑星鲽幼鱼肌肉亚油酸(C18:2n-6)和亚麻酸(C18:3n-3)显著升高(P0.05),而二十碳五烯酸(EPA)和二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)则显著降低(P0.05)。研究结果表明,在该实验条件下,饲料中高比例的豆油替代鱼油会降低鱼体的生长性能和肌肉脂肪酸营养品质。     

微粒饲料中以微藻粉替代鱼油对牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)稚鱼生长存活和脂肪酸组成的影响

以18日龄的牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)稚鱼为研究对象,通过11 d的生长实验,研究了添加不同比例的微藻粉替代鱼油对牙鲆稚鱼生长、存活率和脂肪酸组成的影响。以鱼油组(FO)为对照组,以裂壶藻粉(Schizochytrium sp.)、微绿球藻粉(Nannochloropsis sp.)和橄榄油替代不同比例的鱼油,配制成5组等氮等能的实验饲料,分别命名为鱼油组(FO),50%混合替代组(M50)、100%混合替代组(M100)、100%裂壶藻橄榄油替代组(S100)、100%微绿球藻橄榄油替代组(N100)。结果显示,微藻粉替代鱼油对牙鲆稚鱼的生长无显著影响;含有裂壶藻的各饲料组(M50、M100、S100)成活率显著高于FO组和N100组(P?0.05);微藻粉替代鱼油不影响牙鲆稚鱼主要脂肪酸的组成;Person相关性分析发现,C14:0、C16:1n-7、C18:2n-6、C20:0、C18:3n-3、C22:0、C20:4n-3、EPA、C22:5n-6和DHA的百分含量均与其饲料中的百分含量呈显著正相关(P0.05);总饱和脂肪酸、总单不饱和脂肪酸、n-3多不饱和脂肪酸的百分含量以及DHA/EPA比率均与其饲料组成表现出显著正相关(P0.05)。综上所述,微藻作为脂肪源替代鱼油完全可以满足牙鲆稚鱼的生长和发育,各种脂肪酸均可以被牙鲆稚鱼充分消化和吸收,并且添加两种微藻后提高了稚鱼的DHA含量和DHA/EPA比率,与鱼油对照组相比显著提高了牙鲆稚鱼的成活率。因此,以微藻替代鱼油在牙鲆稚鱼的培育中是可行的。     

亚麻籽油替代鱼油对大菱鲆幼鱼生长、脂肪酸组成及脂肪沉积的影响

为研究亚麻籽油替代不同鱼油水平对大菱鲆幼鱼[初始体质量为(5.89±0.02)g]生长、脂肪酸组成以及肝脏和肌肉脂肪沉积的影响,以亚麻籽油分别替代0、33.3%、66.7%和100%鱼油,配制4种等氮等脂饲料。每组饲料随机投喂3组实验鱼,饱食投喂,养殖周期为92 d。结果发现,饲料亚麻籽油水平并未显著影响大菱鲆幼鱼存活率(SR)和特定生长率(SGR),但显著影响其摄食率(FI)、饲料效率(FE)和表观净蛋白利用率(ANPU)。随饲料亚麻籽油水平升高,FI显著升高,而FE和ANPU显著下降,且其均在100%亚麻籽油组分别达到最大值或最小值。饲料亚麻籽油水平并未显著影响大菱鲆饲料脂肪表观消化率、肝体比和肌肉脂肪含量。当饲料中亚麻籽油替代100%鱼油,鱼体肝脏脂肪含量显著高于全鱼油组。肝脏和肌肉脂肪酸组成与饲料脂肪酸组成相似。相对于全鱼油组,亚麻籽油替代组肌肉和肝脏中亚油酸和亚麻酸显著升高,而EPA和DHA含量显著下降。研究表明,大菱鲆饲料中亚麻籽油替代水平应低于66.7%,且大菱鲆饲料中n-3长链多不饱和脂肪酸含量需大于0.8%。     

饲料中菜籽油替代鱼油对大黄鱼生长、肌肉脂肪酸组成和体色的影响

以初始体质量为(13.56±0.05)g的大黄鱼为对象,研究饲料中菜籽油替代鱼油对大黄鱼生长、肌肉脂肪酸组成和体色的影响。以鱼油组为对照组,用菜籽油分别替代25%、50%、75%、100%的鱼油,配制5种等氮等脂的实验饲料,在海水浮式网箱中进行为期8周的摄食生长实验。结果显示,饲料中不同水平菜籽油替代鱼油对大黄鱼的存活率(SR)和特定生长率(SGR)均无显著性影响;但饲料系数(FCR)随着替代水平的增加呈上升趋势,在100%替代组显著高于对照组。各处理组之间全鱼粗蛋白质、粗脂肪、灰分和水分含量均无显著性差异。肌肉中脂肪酸和饲料中脂肪酸线性关系分析表明,随着菜籽油替代鱼油水平的升高,大黄鱼肌肉中C18∶0、C18∶1、C18∶2n-6和C18∶3n-3含量不断增加,而C20∶4n-6和C22∶5n-3含量不断降低。肌肉中的饱和脂肪酸(SFA)含量随着替代水平的升高而升高,与饲料中SFA含量的变化趋势相反。菜籽油替代鱼油对大黄鱼腹部皮肤亮度值(L*)无显著性影响,但显著影响了背部皮肤L*值,100%替代组L*值显著高于对照组。对照组腹部皮肤红色值(a*)显著高于替代组;与腹部皮肤红色值相反,对照组背部皮肤红色值低于各替代组。菜籽油替代鱼油对大黄鱼背部和腹部皮肤黄色值(b*)均无显著性影响。研究表明,在本实验条件下,菜籽油替代鱼油对大黄鱼生长和体组成无显著影响,却显著影响了大黄鱼的肌肉脂肪酸组成和体色。     

微粒饲料中以微藻粉替代鱼油对牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)稚鱼生长存活和脂肪酸组成的影响

以18日龄的牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)稚鱼为研究对象，通过11 d 的生长实验，研究了添加不同比例的微藻粉替代鱼油对牙鲆稚鱼生长、存活率和脂肪酸组成的影响。以鱼油组(FO)为对照组，以裂壶藻粉(Schizochytrium sp.)、微绿球藻粉(Nannochloropsis sp.)和橄榄油替代不同比例的鱼油，配制成5组等氮等能的实验饲料，分别命名为鱼油组(FO)，50%混合替代组(M50)、100%混合替代组(M100)、100%裂壶藻橄榄油替代组(S100)、100%微绿球藻橄榄油替代组(N100)。结果显示,微藻粉替代鱼油对牙鲆稚鱼的生长无显著影响；含有裂壶藻的各饲料组(M50、M100、S100)成活率显著高于 FO 组和 N100组(P?0.05)；微藻粉替代鱼油不影响牙鲆稚鱼主要脂肪酸的组成；Person相关性分析发现，C14：0、C16：1n-7、C18：2n-6、C20：0、C18：3n-3、C22：0、C20：4n-3、EPA、C22：5n-6和 DHA 的百分含量均与其饲料中的百分含量呈显著正相关(P<0.05)；总饱和脂肪酸、总单不饱和脂肪酸、n-3多不饱和脂肪酸的百分含量以及 DHA/EPA 比率均与其饲料组成表现出显著正相关(P<0.05)。综上所述，微藻作为脂肪源替代鱼油完全可以满足牙鲆稚鱼的生长和发育，各种脂肪酸均可以被牙鲆稚鱼充分消化和吸收，并且添加两种微藻后提高了稚鱼的 DHA 含量和 DHA/EPA 比率，与鱼油对照组相比显著提高了牙鲆稚鱼的成活率。因此，以微藻替代鱼油在牙鲆稚鱼的培育中是可行的。     

3种淡水鱼肌肉脂质的组成及营养评价

以拉萨河拉萨裸裂尻鱼(Schizopygopsis younghusbandi)、拉萨裂腹鱼(Schizothorax waltoni)、双须叶须鱼Ptychobarbus dipogon)为材料,研究了其肌肉中脂质的组成和含量。结果显示:10种含量最丰富的脂肪酸分别是饱和脂肪酸16∶0和18∶0;单不饱和和脂肪酸16∶1n-9、18∶1n-9和18∶1n-7;n-3型多不饱和脂肪酸20∶5n-3,22∶5n-3和22∶6n-3和n-6型多不饱和脂肪酸18∶2n-6和20∶4n-6。结果表明拉萨河鱼类的脂肪酸模型跟深海鱼类相似,而且n-3型多不饱和脂肪酸的含量相对较高。     

不同脂肪酸含量及比例对黄颡鱼幼体组成影响的研究

在粗蛋白42%和粗脂肪8%的半精制饵料中,添加不同剂量的鱼油、玉米油、花生油和芝麻油,使20C:5n-3(EPA)+22C:6n-3(DHA)的含量(占总脂肪的%)和n-3/n-6比例分别为14.942,0.728;15.551,0.851;19.365,1.238;19.976,1.345和20.457,1.406。饲喂黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco,Richardson)幼鱼50 d,研究了不同脂肪酸含量及比例对黄颡鱼幼鱼体组成的影响。结果表明,随着饵料中EPA+DHA的含量和n-3/n-6比例的逐渐增加,鱼体肌肉中水分含量逐渐增加,粗蛋白含量逐渐降低,肌肉中的n-3脂肪酸含量和n-3/n-6比例逐渐增加,肌肉的n-6和n-9脂肪酸含量逐渐降低。     

不同脂肪源饲料对台湾泥鳅生长、肌肉脂肪酸组成和质构的影响

为研究不同脂肪源饲料对台湾泥鳅(Paramisgumus dabryanus ssp)生长、肌肉脂肪酸组成和质构的影响,实验取体重均值为(2.30±0.05)g的台湾泥鳅750尾分5组,每组3个重复,每个水箱50尾,分别投喂含有6%鱼油(FO)、大豆油(SO)、花生油(PO)、玉米油(CO)或棕榈油(PaO)的等氮等能饲料,饲养7周,测定生长性能、体成分、脂肪酸组成及质构。结果显示:不同脂肪源饲料对台湾泥鳅的成活率影响不显著,鱼油组和棕榈油组特定生长率高、饲料系数低,显著优于其他三组,棕榈油组粗脂肪含量显著高于其他四组;饲料中鱼油可以提高台湾泥鳅鱼体中n-3多不饱和脂肪酸(n-3 PUFA)、二十碳五烯酸(DHA)与二十二碳六烯酸(EPA)的相对含量。不同脂肪源饲料对于台湾泥鳅硬度、胶着性影响不显著,对弹性与咀嚼性有一定的影响,其中棕榈油组中弹性和咀嚼性较高。研究表明,鱼油和棕榈油可以作为台湾泥鳅饲料的脂肪源,鱼油有利于提高鱼体中n-3 PUFA含量,棕榈油有助于提高鱼体肌肉的弹性;大豆油、花生油和玉米油对其生长性能不如前两者。     

育肥饲料中混合植物油替代鱼油对三疣梭子蟹育肥性能、生理代谢指标和生化组成的影响

为研究饲料中植物油替代鱼油对三疣梭子蟹育肥性能、生理代谢和生化组成的影响,采用混合植物油(大豆油:菜籽油=1∶1)分别替代饲料中0%、25%、50%、75%和100%的鱼油,制成5种等氮等脂育肥饲料(分别记为饲料Diet 1～Diet 5)对生殖蜕壳后的三疣梭子蟹雌体[初始体质量为(150±25) g]进行45 d的育肥养殖。结果显示:(1)饲料中鱼油替代对雌体成活率(SR)、增重率(WGR)、性腺指数(GSI)、肝胰腺指数(HSI)、出肉率(MY)和总可食率(TEY)均无显著影响。(2)各组雌蟹肝胰腺中的甘油三酯(TG)含量,苹果酸脱氢酶(MDH)、脂肪酶(LPS)和脂蛋白酯酶(LPL)活性均存在显著性差异,其中TG和LPS水平均在Diet 5最高,MDH活性在Diet 1组最高,而LPL活性在Diet 2组最高;血清中甘油三酯(TG)和总胆固醇(TC)分别在Diet 3和Diet 4组最高。(3)Diet 1组肝胰腺中的过氧化物酶(POD)活性显著高于Diet 2和Diet 3组,而肝胰腺中碱性磷酸酶(ALP)和酸性磷酸酶(ACP)均在Diet 4组最高;血清中总超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)活性在Diet 1组最低,Diet 2组最高,而ALP活性在Diet 1组最高。(4)不同饲料组肌肉中粗蛋白和总碳水化合物含量差异显著,均以Diet 3组最高;Diet 3和Diet 4组肝胰腺中的粗脂肪和总碳水化合物均相对较高;此外,卵巢中的粗蛋白含量在Diet 3组最高。(5)饲料中鱼油替代水平对三疣梭子蟹肌肉、卵巢和肝胰腺的脂肪酸组成产生显著影响,n-6多不饱和脂肪酸(n-6 PUFA)随鱼油替代水平的升高而升高,而n-3 PUFA和高度不饱和脂肪酸(HUFA)随饲料鱼油替代水平的升高而降低。研究表明,育肥饲料中植物油替代鱼油对三疣梭子蟹雌体成活和卵巢发育等无显著影响,但可提高肝胰腺中甘油三酯、粗脂肪、n-6 PUFA含量、部分抗氧化和免疫指标;50%的鱼油替代水平可提高卵巢和肌肉中粗蛋白含量。因此,混合植物油可以替代三疣梭子蟹育肥中50%的鱼油。     

Fatty acid metabolism in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax): effects of n-6 PUFA and MUFA in fish oil replaced diets

Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA)-rich and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-6 PUFA)-rich vegetable oils are increasingly used as fish oil replacers for aquafeed formulation. The present study investigated the fatty acid metabolism in juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, 38.4 g) fed diets containing fish oil (FO, as the control treatment) or two different vegetable oils (the MUFA-rich canola/rapeseed oil, CO; and the n-6 PUFA-rich cottonseed oil, CSO) tested individually or as a 50/50 blend (CO/CSO). The whole-body fatty acid balance method was used to deduce the apparent in vivo fatty acid metabolism. No effect on growth performance and feed utilization was recorded. However, it should be noted that the fish meal content of the experimental diets was relatively high, and thus the requirement for n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 LC-PUFA) may have likely been fulfilled even if dietary fish oil was fully replaced by vegetable oils. Overall, relatively little apparent in vivo fatty acid bioconversion was recorded, whilst the apparent in vivo β-oxidation of dietary fatty acid was largely affected by the dietary lipid source, with higher rate of β-oxidation for those fatty acids which were provided in dietary surplus. The deposition of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, as % of the dietary intake, was greatest for the fish fed on the CSO diet. It has been shown that European sea bass seems to be able to efficiently use n-6 PUFA for energy substrate, and this may help in minimizing the β-oxidation of the health benefiting n-3 LC-PUFA and thus increase their deposition into fish tissues.     

Effects of dietary lipid level and vegetable oil on fatty acid metabolism in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) over the whole production cycle

Changes in fatty acid metabolism in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) induced by vegetable oil (VO) replacement of fish oil (FO) and high dietary oil in aquaculture diets can have negative impacts on the nutritional quality of the product for the human consumer, including altered flesh fatty acid composition and lipid content. A dietary trial was designed to investigate the twin problems of FO replacement and high energy diets in salmon throughout the entire production cycle. Salmon were grown from first feeding to around 2 kg on diets in which FO was completely replaced by a 1:1 blend of linseed and rapeseed oils at low (14–17%) and high (25–35%) dietary oil levels. This paper reports specifically on the influence of diet on various aspects of fatty acid metabolism. Fatty acid compositions of liver, intestinal tissue and gill were altered by the diets with increased proportions of C₁₈ polyunsaturated fatty acids and decreased proportions of n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) in fish fed VO compared to fish fed FO. HUFA synthesis in hepatocytes and enterocytes was significantly higher in fish fed VO, whereas β-oxidation was unaltered by either dietary oil content or type. Over the entire production cycle, HUFA synthesis in hepatocytes showed a decreasing trend with age interrupted by a large peak in activity at seawater transfer. Gill cell prostaglandin (PG) production showed a possible seasonal trend, with peak activities in winter and low activities in summer and at seawater transfer. PG production in seawater was lower in fish fed the high oil diets with the lowest PG production generally observed in fish fed high VO. The changes in fatty acid metabolism induced by high dietary oil and VO replacement contribute to altered flesh lipid content and fatty acid compositions, and so merit continued investigation to minimize any negative impacts that sustainable, environmentally-friendly and cost-effective aquaculture diets could have in the future. Abbreviations: FO - fish oil; HUFA - highly unsaturated fatty acids acids (carbon chain length ≥C ₂₀ with ≥3 double bonds); LO - linseed oil; RO - rapeseed oil; VO - vegetable oil. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of soybean oil and soybean lecithin on intestinal lipid composition and lipid droplet accumulation of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) were fed purified diets containing fish oil for six weeks and then soybean lecithin or soybean oil for 25 days. The gastrointestinal tract segments, stomach, midgut and hindgut were then sampled for lipid and fatty acid composition and electron microscopy. Membrane lipid class composition was fairly similar in all three segments of trout fed fish oil. Hindgut contained slightly more phosphatidylserine than stomach and midgut, while midgut contained more phosphatidylcholine and less lysophospatidylcholine/sphingomyelin. Feeding soybean products appeared to marginally decrease free cholesterol. The fatty acid compositions of the main lipid classes showed significant regional differences. In control fish, stomach had higher levels of arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids than midgut and hindgut, and lower content of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Midgut phosphatidylethanolamine also had higher levels of saturated fatty acids and less n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids than the other tissues. Feeding soybean products decreased the n-3/n-6 ratio mainly due to increases in linoleic (18:2n-6) and 20:4n-6 and decreases in 22:6n-3 and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3). Phosphatidylcholine and to a lesser extent phosphatidylethanolamine adapted more readily to dietary changes by major increases in 18:2n-6 and C₂₀₋₂₂ n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The composition of phosphatidyl-serine and -inositol appeared to be under more strict metabolic control. Linoleic acid hardly increased at all while the increase in other n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids was less pronounced than for the other lipid classes. Regardless of lipid class, stomach resisted dietary changes more strongly than midgut and hindgut. Increases in n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids were minor as were the loss of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The dead-end product 20:2n-6 accumulated to a higher degree in hindgut phosphatidyl-ethanolamine and -coline compared to midgut and stomach, suggesting that the activity of Δ₆ desaturation is higher in the anterior part of the intestine where most of the lipid is absorbed. Feeding soybean oil caused massive accumulation of free lipid droplets in midgut enterocytes while little lipid droplets were observed in trout fed fish oil or soybean lecithin. Since both soybean products influenced intestinal composition to the same degree, altered fatty acid profiles in membranes is not responsible for the observed lipid accumulation. This supports previous observations in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.), suggesting that fish may require exogenous phospholipids in order to sustain a sufficient rate of lipoprotein synthesis. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influence of nutrition on the lipid quality of pond fish: common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and tench (Tinca tinca)

Like marine fish freshwater fish are an important source of essential fatty acids for human nutrition. However, the fatty acid composition of pond fish can vary considerably and strongly depends on that of the ingested food. Investigations on the fatty acid composition of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and tench (Tinca tinca) have shown that different methods of rearing and feeding cause substantial variations in the proportions of the n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids of these fish species. Carp reared on the basis of natural food in ponds exhibit high contents of n-6 as well as n-3 fatty acids in their muscle triacylglycerols. On the other hand carp fed supplementary wheat in ponds resulted in somewhat lower levels of these essential fatty acids. High amounts of n-3 fatty acids can be found in carp fed high-energy diets containing high levels of fish oil. Analogous results were obtained in experiments with tench reared under different nutritional conditions. While rearing on the basis of only natural food in ponds as well as feeding supplementary wheat yielded in similar levels of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, higher contents of n-3 fatty acids were recorded in tench fed pellets. High levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in foodstuffs have positive effects on human health. Experiments with different cultured fish species proved that the fatty acid composition of the edible parts can be influenced by the diet. Therefore, a finishing diet with a suitable fatty acid profile can be used to improve the nutritional quality of fish products of farmed origin.     

n-3 LC-PUFA deposition efficiency and appetite-regulating hormones are modulated by the dietary lipid source during rainbow trout grow-out and finishing periods

Largely attributable to concerns surrounding sustainability, the utilisation of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich (n-3 LC-PUFA) fish oils in aquafeeds for farmed fish species is an increasingly concerning issue. Therefore, strategies to maximise the deposition efficiency of these key health beneficial fatty acids are being investigated. The present study examined the effects of four vegetable-based dietary lipid sources (linseed, olive, palm and sunflower oil) on the deposition efficiency of n-3 LC-PUFA and the circulating blood plasma concentrations of the appetite-regulating hormones, leptin and ghrelin, during the grow-out and finishing phases in rainbow trout culture. Minimal detrimental effects were noted in fish performance; however, major modifications were apparent in tissue fatty acid compositions, which generally reflected that of the diet. These modifications diminished somewhat following the fish oil finishing phase, but longer-lasting effects remained evident. The fatty acid composition of the alternative oils was demonstrated to have a modulatory effect on the deposition efficiency of n-3 LC-PUFA and on the key endocrine hormones involved in appetite regulation, growth and feed intake during both the grow-out and finishing phases. In particular, n-6 PUFA (sunflower oil diet) appeared to ‘spare’ the catabolism of n-3 LC-PUFA and, as such, resulted in the highest retention of these fatty acids, ultimately highlighting new nutritional approaches to maximise the maintenance of the qualitative benefits of fish oils when they are used in feeds for aquaculture species.     

The influence of dietary fatty acid and fasting on the hepatic lipid metabolism of barramundi (Lates calcarifer)

For many fish species, dietary fish oil (FO) has been substituted with other oils such as poultry oil (PO) without affecting growth performance. However, in barramundi, the mechanisms by which fatty acid metabolism is regulated are poorly understood, and the effects of FO substitution are unknown. This study defined changes in the expression of genes controlling the metabolism of fatty acids in barramundi over a 24‐h time period after a single meal. From one to 12 h after a single feeding event, the expression of fatty acid synthesis genes in the liver was upregulated, while genes involved in the β‐oxidation showed minimal alteration. However, the expression of β‐oxidation genes was significantly correlated with the expression of genes regulating fatty acid synthesis. In a second experiment, the changes in liver fatty acid composition and gene expression were defined after FO was substituted with PO. Liver fatty acid profile reflected the diet composition, with some subtle exceptions supporting the enrichment of certain long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the liver. The fish from all experimental groups preferentially retained more docosahexaenoic acid than eicosapentaenoic acid in the liver, suggesting a bioconversion of this fatty acid to intermediate fatty acids. Replacement of FO with PO significantly regulated genes controlling both fatty acid synthesis and catabolism pathways, potentially related to a higher percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids, in the livers of fish fed these diets. The results demonstrated that diet composition significantly altered the lipid metabolism in barramundi and that there was a balance between direct dietary effects and endogenous synthetic capacity.     

Effect of a dietary phospholipid supplementation on growth and fatty acid composition of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) and turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) juveniles from weaning onwards

Two 40-day feeding trials using extruded diets were conducted to assess the effect of a dietary phospholipid (PL) supplementation on growth, survival and fatty acid composition of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) from weaning onwards. Two dietary treatments (FO and PL) were tested; both had an identical extruded basis (92.5% total diet weight) coated with a different lipid fraction (7.5% total diet weight). Diet PL contained 2% egg yolk PL (69% pure). In diet FO the PL was replaced by hydrogenated coconut oil. The isolipidic diets contained an equal amount of fish oil ethyl esters providing 1.6% (% diet dry weight) of n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA). A diet water stability test showed no effect of the PL supplementation on the leaching of the dietary fatty acids. In both fish species weight, but not survival, significantly increased as a result of PL supplementation. Weaning onto the experimental diets resulted in similar changes in the relative percent levels of fatty acids in both species. In general, the percentage of saturated fatty acids levelled off after a rapid increase, while monoenes increased after an initial decrease. Total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) decreased and total n-6 PUFA remained almost constant. The major effect of the dietary PL on fish fatty acid composition was a 50% increase in n-6 and n-3 HUFAs compared to the PL-free FO diet. The rise in n-6 HUFA may have reflected the higher moiety in the dietary PL. On the other hand this was not the case for the n-3 HUFA since they represented only low levels in the PL fraction (0.1%) compared to that provided by the ethyl esters (1.6%) suggesting a more efficient incorporation of the PL n-3 HUFA than of the ethyl ester n-3 HUFA. A second hypothesis is that the dietary PL may have favored the incorporation of the dietary ethyl ester n-3 HUFA.     

Effects of essential fatty acid-deficient diets on growth, mortality, tissue histopathology and fatty acid compositions in juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

Three diets in which the lipid component was supplied either as fish oil (FO), linseed oil (LO) or olive oil (OO) were fed to duplicate groups of juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) of initial weight 1.2 g for a period of up to 12 weeks. The latter two diets resulted in a significant reduction in specific growth rate and an increased mortality compared to the FO (control) fed fish. A liver histopathology was evident in around half of the fish fed the LO and OO diets but was absent in fish fed FO. The lesion showed indications of cellular alterations consisting of foci of densely basophilic cells but without evidence of inflammatory activity. The total lipid fatty acid composition of the carcass from fish fed LO had increased percentages of 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3, but decreased percentages of all other polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) including the physiologically important 20:4n-6, 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, compared to fish fed FO. Almost 2/3 of the total fatty acids in the carcass of OO-fed fish were monounsaturated while the percentages of total saturated fatty acids and all other PUFA, except 18:2n-6, were significantly reduced compared to fish fed FO. Broadly similar effects on total lipid fatty acid composition were observed in liver. In the liver glycerophospholipid classes of fish fed LO, percentages of 18:2n-6, 18:3n-3 and 20:3n-3 were significantly increased whereas all C20 and C22 PUFA, with the exception of 20:5n-3 in PI, were significantly reduced compared to fish fed FO. The liver glycerophospholipids of fish fed OO all showed significantly increased total monounsaturates, 18:2n-6, 20:2n-6, 18:2n-9 and 20:2n-9 as well as reduced percentages of 20:4n-6 and 22:6n-3, compared to fish fed FO. The brain glycerophospholipids showed broadly similar changes in response to dietary treatment although the magnitude of fatty acid alterations was less than those observed in liver. The greater mortalities in the OO-fed fish compared to the LO-fed fish suggests that incorporation of 18:3n-3 into tissue phospholipids can offset losses of long-chain PUFA more effectively than incorporation of 18:1n-9. However, levels of dietary long-chain PUFA must be optimised to allow normal growth and development. We conclude that the very low flux through the fatty acid desaturase/elongase pathways in turbot is not up-regulated by diets deficient in 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3.     

Effects of dietary fish oil replacement with blended vegetable oils on growth,lipid metabolism and antioxidant capacity of subadult swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus

A 120‐day trial was conducted to assess the effects of dietary fish oil replacement with vegetable oils on growth, lipid metabolism and antioxidant capacity of subadult swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus. Five isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated to replace 0, 250, 500, 750 and 1000g/kg of fish oil with a mixture of soybean and rapeseed oil (defined as D1–D5), and each treatment had 30 replicate crabs. Dietary fish oil replacement had no significant effects on growth of the crabs, while the D3 had the highest hepatosomatic index and total lipids in hepatopancreas. The triglyceride and lipase activities in hepatopancreas increased significantly with increasing dietary fish oil replacement. The D4 had the highest levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acid phosphatase (ACP) in the hepatopancreas, as well as the haemolymph ALP, ACP and peroxidase. The highest levels of haemolymph total antioxidant capacity, catalase and malondialdehyde were detected in D1. Total n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids levels in hepatopancreas decreased significantly with increasing dietary fish oil replacement. In conclusion, dietary fish oil replacement had no significant effects on growth of P. trituberculatus, and 500g/kg of fish oil replacement could improve antioxidant capacity, but excessive replacement level will enhance lipid accumulation and peroxidation in the hepatopancreas.