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.     

Echium oil increased the expression of a Δ4 Fads2 fatty acyl desaturase and the deposition of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid in comparison with linseed oil in striped snakehead (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Channa striata</Emphasis>) muscle

Despite the potential of vegetable oils as aquafeed ingredients, a major drawback associated with their utilization is the inferior level of beneficial n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA). Echium oil (EO), which is rich in stearidonic acid (SDA, 18:4n-3), could potentially improve the deposition of n-3 LC-PUFA as the biosynthesis of LC-PUFA is enhanced through bypassing the rate-limiting ?6 desaturation step. We report for the first time an attempt to investigate whether the presence of a desaturase (Fads2) capable of ?4 desaturation activities and an elongase (Elovl5) will leverage the provision of dietary SDA to produce a higher rate of LC-PUFA bioconversion. Experimental diets were designed containing fish oil (FO), EO or linseed oil (LO) (100FO, 100EO, 100LO), and diets which comprised equal mixtures of the designated oils (50EOFO and 50EOLO) were evaluated in a 12-week feeding trial involving striped snakeheads (Channa striata). There was no significant difference in growth and feed conversion efficiency. The hepatic fatty acid composition and higher expression of fads2 and elovl5 genes in fish fed EO-based diets indicate the utilization of dietary SDA for LC-PUFA biosynthesis. Collectively, this resulted in a higher deposition of muscle eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) compared to LO-based diets. Dietary EO improved the ratio of n-3 LC-PUFA to n-6 LC-PUFA in fish muscle, which is desirable for human populations with excessive consumption of n-6 PUFA. This study validates the contribution of SDA in improving the content of n-3 LC-PUFA and the ratio of EPA to arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n-6) in a freshwater carnivorous species.     

Effect of dietary marine lipids on female white bass ova compositions and progeny survival

We evaluated white bass ovum fatty acid composition as well as embryonic and larval survival after varying n-3 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) concentrations in maternal diets. Diets containing graded levels (0, 33, 66, or 100%) of squid to menhaden oils were fed daily to apparent satiation to female white bass for 8 weeks prior to spawning. Embryonic survival was negatively related to maternal squid oil intake (P = 0.015, R ² = 0.970). Squid oil-fed broodstock produced ova with decreased 20:5n-3 and increased C₁₈ polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations, largely reflecting the fatty acid profile of squid oil. Within ovum phospholipid, accumulation of 18:2n-6 may have altered biological function resulting in the lower embryonic survival among ova produced from the squid oil-fed broodstock. Our data suggest the importance of feeding white bass broodstock diets high in total n-3 LC-PUFA (at least 4.0% dry matter), and 20:5n-3-rich lipid sources such as menhaden oil can be effectively utilized by female white bass to produce quality ova.     

Influence of partial substitution of dietary fish oil by vegetable oils on the metabolism of [1-14C] 18:3n-3 in isolated hepatocytes of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

The static or declining supply of fish oil from industrial fisheries demands the search of alternatives, such as plant (vegetable) oils, for diets in expanding marine aquaculture. Vegetable oils are rich in C₁₈ polyunsaturated fatty acids but devoid of the n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids in fish oils. Previous studies, primarily with salmonids, have shown that including vegetable oils in their diets increased hepatocyte fatty acid desaturation. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of dietary partial substitution of fish oil (FO) with rapeseed oil (RO), linseed oil (LO) and olive oil (OO) on the desaturation /elongation and, -oxidation capacities of [1-¹⁴C]18:3n-3 in isolated hepatocytes from European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.), in a simultaneous combined assay. Fish were fed during 34 weeks with diets containing 100% FO, or RO, LO and OO, each included at 60% with the balance being met by FO, with no detrimental effect upon growth or survival. The highest total desaturation rates were found in hepatocytes of fish fed FO diet (0.52±0.08 pmol/h/mg protein) and OO diet (0.43±0.09 pmol/h/mg protein), which represented 3.2% and 2.7% of total [1-¹⁴C]18:3n-3 incorporated, respectively. In contrast, lowest desaturation rates were presented by hepatocytes of fish fed LO and RO diets (0.23±0.06 and 0.14±0.05 pmol/h/mg protein, respectively) represented 1.4% and 0.9% of total [1-¹⁴C]18:3n-3 incorporated, respectively. The rates of [1-¹⁴C]18:3n-3 β-oxidized were between 11-fold and 35-fold higher than desaturation. However, no significant differences were observed among β-oxidation activities in hepatocytes of fish fed any of the diets. The present study demonstrated that the European sea bass, as a carnivorous marine fish, presented a ‘marine’ fish pattern in the metabolism of 18:3n-3 to 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3. This species appeared to have all the enzymic activities necessary to produce 22:6n-3 but presented only extremely low rates of fatty acid bioconversion. Furthermore, nutritional regulation of hepatocyte fatty acid desaturation was minimal, and dietary vegetable oils did not increase desaturase activities, and in RO and LO treatments the activity was significantly lower. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

脂肪酸对鱼类免疫系统的影响及调控机制研究进展

替代脂肪源的开发和利用是解决鱼油短缺问题的必然选择。然而,随着替代水平的提高,鱼体常常表现免疫水平和抗病能力降低。鱼油替代的本质为脂肪酸替代,深入研究脂肪酸与鱼类免疫的关系显得尤为重要。本实验综述了脂肪酸对鱼类免疫性能的影响及调控机制。饱和脂肪酸会降低鱼类免疫力,而适量添加n-3长链多不饱和脂肪酸(LC-PUFA)、共轭亚油酸(CLA)或提高n-3/n-6多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)的比例有利于鱼体免疫力发挥;饲料中脂肪酸主要通过细胞膜结构、信号传导、类花生四烯酸、细胞因子和类固醇激素等途径对鱼类免疫进行调控。脂肪酸与鱼类的免疫性能具有高度相关性,而调控机制的研究尚有较大空间。未来研究应该侧重于以下几个方面:脂肪酸对免疫相关转录因子的调控机制;鱼类肠道脂肪酸组成改变与菌群结构和免疫性能之间的相关性;环境因子对鱼体脂肪代谢和免疫力的影响;非脂肪酸成分(矿物质、维生素)对鱼类脂肪酸代谢和免疫过程的调控机制。     

n-3/n-6长链多不饱和脂肪酸对大菱鲆幼鱼脂肪沉积、脂肪吸收及代谢相关酶活性和血清生化指标的影响

为探讨饲料中不同n-3/n-6长链多不饱和脂肪酸(LC-PUFA)对大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)幼鱼生长性能及饲料利用、体组成和消化酶的影响,配制了6种不同n-3/n-6 LC-PUFA比值(29.54,D1组;23.04,D2组;18.97,D3组;9.06,D4组;6.86,D5组;3.87,D6组)的实验饲料。以大菱鲆幼鱼[(12.18?0.01)g]为研究对象,在循环水养殖系统中开展了为期56 d的养殖实验。结果显示,n-3/n-6 LC-PUFA对大菱鲆幼鱼的成活率(SR)无显著影响(P0.05);增重率(WGR)随着n-3/n-6 LC-PUFA的降低呈先上升后下降趋势,D6组显著低于其他各组(P0.05);脂肪沉积率随着饲料中n-3/n-6 LC-PUFA的降低呈下降趋势,且D6组达到最小值,为14.80,显著低于其他各组(P0.05)。随着饲料中的变化,胰蛋白酶的活性呈先增强后减弱的趋势,且在D4组时达到最大值;脂肪酶活性呈上升趋势。随着饲料中n-3/n-6 LC-PUFA的变化,脂肪酸合成酶活性呈先上升后下降的趋势,最高值为D4组,显著高于其他各组(P0.05);葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶的酶活呈先上升后下降的趋势,D3组为最大值,显著高于其他各组(P0.05)。随着饲料中n-3/n-6 LC-PUFA的降低,谷草转氨酶呈先上升后下降的趋势;总蛋白、白蛋白和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇均随着饲料n-3/n-6LC-PUFA的变化呈先上升后下降的趋势,均在D5组时达到最大值。研究表明,饲料中n-3/n-6LC-PUFA的比例降低会导致大菱鲆幼鱼的脂肪沉积率降低。     

Influence of dietary fish oil concentration and finishing duration on beneficial fatty acid profile restoration in sunshine bass Morone chrysops ♀ x M. saxatilis ♂

Considerable feed savings may be realized by reducing the fish oil (FO) content of aquafeeds used during grow-out, but fatty acid (FA) profile of the resultant seafood will be altered. By feeding a FO-rich finishing feed prior to harvest, fillet levels of beneficial long-chain polyunsaturated FA (LC-PUFA) can be partially or completely restored. We evaluated the use of linseed oil (LO) as a partial substitute for FO, and assessed the relative impacts of grow-out feed FO concentration and finishing duration on production performance and fillet fatty acid (FA) composition of sunshine bass. Fish were raised on feeds containing 33 or 67% FO during the grow-out period, and then finished with a 100% FO finishing feed for 4 or 8 weeks before harvest; for comparison, a control group was fed the 100% FO feed throughout the entire 20-week trial. Production performance was unaffected by the dietary formulations or feeding schemes, however, fillet FA varied among treatment groups. Increased consumption of LO, whether by increased dietary concentrations or longer feeding periods, resulted in elevated levels of LO-associated medium-chain polyunsaturated FA, specifically 18:3n-3; increased consumption of FO had the same effect on tissue levels of FO-associated LC-PUFA such as 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3. Finishing had a significant restorative effect on fillet LC-PUFA content (LC-PUFA in finished groups ranged from 64-87% of control levels compared to 50-71% in unfinished groups), however, with the exception of 22:6n-3, 8 weeks of finishing was still insufficient to completely restore fillet LC-PUFA content to control levels, regardless of grow-out feed. We observed fillet levels of LC-PUFA to be essentially a function of total FO consumption, and FA profile change to be relatively well-described by simple dilution modeling. However, further research is needed to unequivocally demonstrate the relative merits of continuous vs. periodic provision of FO-rich aquafeeds.     

Dietary lipid sources affect the performance of Nile tilapia at optimal and cold,suboptimal temperatures

Five sources of dietary fatty acids (fish, linseed, sunflower, olive and coconut oils) were evaluated in juvenile Nile tilapia in two trials: at optimal (28°C) and suboptimal (22°C) temperatures lasting 9 and 12 weeks, respectively. At 28°C, there was no clear effect of dietary source on fish growth, but at 22°C, the highest daily weight gain occurred in fish fed sunflower, linseed and fish oil. Feed efficiency and apparent net protein utilization increased as the amount of unsaturated fatty acids, especially n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), in the diet increased. Coconut oil, which is rich in saturated fatty acids (SFA), led to the worst growth results, especially at 22°C, with the lowest weight gain, feed intake and feed utilization by tilapia. The body fatty acid profile, in % of total fatty acids, was dependent on diet composition. However, for all treatments, PUFA body content increased with the decrease in temperature, but SFA and monounsaturated fatty acids remained the primary contributors to the body profile. Either fish oil or vegetable oil may be used as sources of dietary fatty acids for Nile tilapia, but at suboptimal temperatures, a dietary source containing more PUFA and less SFA improves performance.     

Muscle fatty acid composition and oxidative stress indices of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), in relation to dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid levels and temperature

The influence of feeding high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on muscle fatty acid composition and indices of oxidative damage was examined in Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.). All diets contained 100 g kg^?1 lipid of dry weight. Two diets contained marine fish oils giving a PUFA level of 250 g kg^?1 and 500 g kg^?1 of lipid. The remaining two diets contained vegetable oils high in either 18:2n-6 or 18:3n-3, giving a PUFA level of more than 500 g kg^?1 of dietary lipid. The charr were maintained at 8°C until their weight doubled, and were then transferred to 0.8°C for 30 days. Growth was similar in all groups. The fatty acid compositions of muscle were influenced by dietary PUFA but were less diverse than those of the diets. The overall pattern of fatty acid compositions indicated preferential desaturation and elongation of n-3 PUFA coupled with selective oxidation of 18:2n-6. Total n-3 PUFA content in TAG was always lowered compared with the diet, suggesting a specific mechanism for the removal of these fatty acids. Subjecting the fish to low temperature increased PUFA content in muscle of charr fed the 250 g kg^?1 marine n-3 PUFA diet, but had no effect on the other treatments. For fish at 8°C, no significant differences were found between groups in terms of haematocrit, plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), and plasma and muscle thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), although there was a tendency towards increased levels of TBARS in the group receiving 500 g kg^?1 marine n-3 PUFA of lipid. Subjecting the muscle to forced oxidative conditions resulted in increases in TBARS in all groups, particularly those fed 500 g kg^?1 marine n-3 PUFA. Lowering the environmental temperature corresponded with a further increase in the plasma ALAT and muscle TBARS in this group. It is concluded that feeding diets containing high levels of long-chain n-3 PUFA may be detrimental to the fish's health and flesh quality, particularly at low environmental temperatures.     

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 (n-3) and (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio on the immune response of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

To examine the influence of the dietary ratio of (n-3) to (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on the immune system of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., two dietary trials were carried out in which parr were maintained on diets containing either fish oil [(n-3)/(n-6) PUFA = 5.2] or sunflower oil [(n-3)/(n-6) PUFA = 0.3] and assessed for differences in immunological parameters. There were no significant differences in blood cell counts, differential leucocyte counts or haematocrit values between dietary groups, and while no apparent differences were observed in the non-specific immune parameters measured, there was a significantly higher number of B cells responding to Aeromonas salmonicida, in the kidney and spleen of vaccinated fish maintained on high (n-3)/(n-6) PUFAs diets. There was also a significant difference (P≤ 0.01) between the dietary groups in trial 1 and trial 2 when non-vaccinated fish were challenged with Aeromonas salmonicida and Vibrio anguillarum, respectively, with the (n-6) group succumbing to the bacterium before the (n-3) group. The results suggest that Atlantic salmon fed diets with a low ratio of (n-3)/(n-6) PUFA may be less resistant to infection than those fed diets containing lipid with a high (n-3)/(n-6) PUFA ratio.     

Effects of dietary lipids on tissue fatty acids profile,growth and reproductive performance of female rice field eel (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Monopterus albus</Emphasis>)

The effects of different lipids on tissue fatty acid profile and reproductive performance in female rice field eel were investigated in this study. Virgin female eels were fed with six diets containing different lipids (diets FO, LO, SO, PO and PL with fish oil, linseed oil, soybean oil, peanut oil and pork lard, respectively; diet APO with arachidonic acid and peanut oil). The results showed that there were positive correlations between the contents of 18:2n-6, 18:3n-3, arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the tissues of eels and those of the corresponding fatty acids in their diets. The specific growth rate of eels fed with diet PO was the lowest and significantly lower than that of FO and SO. Gonad of eels fed with diets PO and PL showed hypogonadism. The long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) can be synthesized by eels, but the quantity was not enough to meet their reproduction requirement completely. The fatty acid desaturation, rather than elongation probably was one of the limiting factors. Addition of proper amount of ARA in diet was favorable to the increase of the hatching rate of fertilized eggs, while EPA and DHA in diet were beneficial to the increase of the survival rate of larva. Both n-3PUFA and a suitable n-6/n-3PUFA ratio were necessary for growth and reproduction of eels.     

Response of Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides to Dietary Supplementation of Lysine, Methionine, and Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids

Abstract.— A 12-wk feeding trial was conducted in aquaria with juvenile (36.0 ± 1.2 g) largemouth bass Microptents salmoides to examine the effects of dietary supplementation of methionine, lysine, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on growth, feed conversion and body composition. Diets were formulated to increase dietary concentrations of methionine. lysine, and PUFAs to match levels found in whole body samples of largemouth bass. The control diet was formulated similar to diets previously tested for largemouth bass. Diets 2 and 3 were similar to the control diet hut were supplemented with 2% lysine and 1% methionine, respectively. Diet 4 was formulated to increase PUFAs, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (22:6n-3), by replacing menhaden fish oil with squid oil. Fish were fed all they would consume in 10 min, twice daily. At harvest, there were no statistically significant differences ( P > 0.05) in average individual weight or specific growth rate (SGR) among fish fed the four diets. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) of largemouth bass fed the diet supplemented with methionine (1.7) was significantly lower ( P ≤ 0.05) than fish fed the control diet (2.5). Fish fed the diet high in PUFA had significantly lower ( P ≤ 0.05) whole body lipid levels and significantly higher ( P ≤ 0.05) protein levels than fish fed the other three diets. These data indicate that the control diet in this study likely contained sufficient lysine, methionine and PUFA to meet the requirements of largemouth bass; however, additional methionine may improve feed conversion efficiency, and increased levels of PUFAs or other factors in squid oil may have a significant impact on body composition.     

Effects of different dietary oils in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) nutrition

Five diets having the same proximate composition but containingdifferent types of supplemental oils, singly or in combination, were used forgrowing sea bass from 95 g to about 200 g in smallseacages. The oils tested were olive oil, soybean oil and fish oil. The dietsformulated contained EPA and DHA levels ranging from 0.88 to 1.35% of the diet.Growth parameters and fish body composition were not significantly affected bythe type of oil used. The same was generally apparent for liver andhematological characteristics. The content of phospholipids in EPA and DHA washighest in the livers of fish fed diets supplemented with fish oil. A positivecorrelation was found between dietary and liver n-6 PUFA. Histological sectionsindicated extended pathological symptoms (intensive liver degeneration andhemorrhages, changes in the gill structure) in the fish receiving dietssupplemented only with plant oils. These symptoms existed but to a smallerfrequency and degree in livers of fish fed diets supplemented with plant andfish oil, while were not apparent in those fed the fish oil diet.     

Effects of different dietary oils in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) nutrition

Five diets having the same proximate composition but containingdifferent types of supplemental oils, singly or in combination, were used forgrowing sea bass from 95 g to about 200 g in smallseacages. The oils tested were olive oil, soybean oil and fish oil. The dietsformulated contained EPA and DHA levels ranging from 0.88 to 1.35% of the diet.Growth parameters and fish body composition were not significantly affected bythe type of oil used. The same was generally apparent for liver andhematological characteristics. The content of phospholipids in EPA and DHA washighest in the livers of fish fed diets supplemented with fish oil. A positivecorrelation was found between dietary and liver n-6 PUFA. Histological sectionsindicated extended pathological symptoms (intensive liver degeneration andhemorrhages, changes in the gill structure) in the fish receiving dietssupplemented only with plant oils. These symptoms existed but to a smallerfrequency and degree in livers of fish fed diets supplemented with plant andfish oil, while were not apparent in those fed the fish oil diet.     

Oil extraction From the Copepod Calanus finmarchicus Using Proteolytic Enzymes

The limited amount of fish oils available has led to extensive search for alternative sources of oils rich in long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The zooplankton Calanus finmarchicus is present in large amounts in the North Atlantic and have lipid-rich stages which can be harvested. The main objective of this study was to investigate if the use of food grade proteolytic enzymes, Alcalase® and Flavourzyme®, could improve oil recovery in an industrial-like process, and to characterize the oil obtained. The results showed a substantially higher oil yield with the use of proteolytic enzymes compared to standard fish oil production technology. The oil from C. finmarchicus had a high content of n-3 PUFA mainly comprised of stearidonic acid (18:4 n-3), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Wax esters were the dominating lipid class in the oil.     

酶法制备n-3多不饱和脂肪酸甘油酯的研究进展

鱼油中n-3多不饱和脂肪酸（n-3PUFA）是以甘油酯形式存在的。本文对鱼油保健品中n-3PUFA存在形式的选择，利用生物酶技术富集n-3PUFA的方法如脂肪酶选择性水解、脂肪酶选择性酯交换和脂肪酶选择性酯化进行了详细的综述，并对n-3PUFA甘油酯的前景进行了展望，为进一步开发n-3PUFA甘油酯产品提供参考。     

The conversion of linoleic acid and linolenic acid to longer chain polyunsaturated fatty acids by Tilapia (Oreochromis) nilotica in vivo

Tilapia (Oreochromis) nilotica were fed either a commercial diet containing 2.2% (n-3) and 0.5% (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), or a diet containing 1.0% methyl linoleate as the only PUFA. The fatty acid composition of tissue lipids generally reflected that of the diet. Fish from both dietary groups were injected intraperitoneally with ¹⁴C-labelled linoleic acid, 18:2 (n-6), or linolenic acid, 18:3 (n-3), and the distribution of radioactivity in tissue lipids examined. The conversion of both 18:2 (n-6) and 18:3 (n-3) to longer chain PUFA was lower in fish fed the commercial diet than in those fed the diet containing only 18:2 (n-6). Half of the radioactivity from both substrates recovered in liver polar lipids was present in C20 and C22 PUFA with fish maintained on the experimental diet. It is concluded that T. nilotica is capable of elongating and desaturating both 18:2 (n-6) and 18:3 (n-3), but that this conversion is suppressed by dietary longer chain PUFA. NERC Unit of Aquatic Biochemistry     

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.