Carbohydrate Metabolism of Vitellogenic Follicles and Eggs of Serranus cabrilla (Serranidae) and Mullus barbatus (Mullidae) and of Embryos of Sparus aurata (Sparidae)

The present study compared the carbohydrate metabolism of pelagic eggs of three marine species, Serranus cabrilla (Serranidae), Mullus barbatus (Mullidae) and Sparus aurata (Sparidae). In particular, in Serranus cabrilla and Mullus barbatus the changes in carbohydrate metabolism from the vitellogenic follicle stage to the ovulated egg stage (final maturation of the egg) were investigated, and in Sparus aurata the changes from the unfertilized egg stage to the late-embryo stage just before hatching were observed. In mature, unfertilized eggs of these three species the qualitative and quantitative composition of carbohydrates, enzymes and metabolites were similar, indicating no differences in carbohydrate metabolism. Glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and the pentose phosphate pathway occurred in the follicles and eggs. From the vitellogenic follicle stage to the mature egg stage glycolytic activity was constant in S. cabrilla and M. barbatus, while the activity of the pentose phosphate pathway and of gluconeogenesis decreased. Quantitative carbohydrate composition changed as the levels of hexose, ketose, 6-deoxyhexose, uronic acid and fructose-6-phosphate increased from the vitellogenic follicle stage to the mature egg stage, while the levels of D-glycerate-2-phosphate and phosphoenolpyruvate decreased. In S. aurata, the investigated parameters of carbohydrate metabolism were similar between unfertilized eggs and eggs in the first cleavage stage. From the first cleavage stage to the late embryo stage the levels of hexose, 2-deoxyhexose, ketose, ribose, uronic acid and phosphoenolpyruvate increased, while the levels of D-glycerate-2-phosphate decreased.