Effects of dietary eicosapentaenoic acid on growth, survival, pigmentation and fatty acid composition in Senegal sole (Solea senegalensis) larvae during the Artemia feeding period

We examined the effect of dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n‐3) on growth, survival, pigmentation and fatty acid composition of Senegal sole larvae. From 3 to 40 days post‐hatch (dph), larvae were fed live food that had been enriched using one of four experimental emulsions containing graduated concentrations of EPA and constant docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n‐3) and arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n‐6). Final proportions of EPA in the enriched Artemia nauplii were described as ‘nil’ (EPA‐N, 0.5% total fatty acids, TFA), ‘low’ (EPA‐L, 10.7% TFA), ‘medium’ (EPA‐M, 20.3% TFA) or ‘high’ (EPA‐H, 29.5% TFA). Significant differences among dietary treatments in larval length were observed at 25, 30 and 40 dph, and in dry weight at 30 and 40 dph, although no significant correlation could be found between dietary EPA content and growth. Eye migration at 17 and 25 dph was affected by dietary levels of EPA. Significantly lower survival was observed in fish fed EPA‐H diet. Lower percentage of fish fed EPA‐N (82.7%) and EPA‐L (82.9%) diets were normally pigmented compared with the fish fed EPA‐M (98.1%) and EPA‐H (99.4%) enriched nauplii. Tissue fatty acid concentrations reflected the corresponding dietary composition. ARA and DHA levels in all the tissues examined were inversely related to dietary EPA. This work concluded that Senegal sole larvae have a very low EPA requirement during the live feeding period.     

Effects of dietary n‐3 PUFA supplements on composition of n‐3 PUFA and expression of fatty acid elongase 5 (AJELOVL5) in sea cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus

This is the first comprehensive study on the effect of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels on the expression of fatty acid elongase 5 (AJELOVL5), PUFA composition, and growth in juvenile sea cucumbers. The specific growth rate (SGR_w) was improved in n‐3 PUFA‐rich diets compared to low n‐3 PUFA diets. AJELOVL5 expression was apparently upregulated in juveniles fed lower PUFA diets relative to higher PUFA diets, with higher expression in the body wall and respiratory tree of juveniles fed diets without ɑ‐linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n‐3) compared to juveniles fed higher ALA level diets; similar results were also detected in juveniles fed diets with lower eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n‐3), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n‐3), and none of ALA, EPA, or DHA respectively. The concentrations of ALA, EPA, and DHA in tissues were positively related to the content of dietary corresponding PUFA, with higher ALA content in juveniles fed diet ALA_12.71 than in the ALA_7.46 and ALA₀ groups. Similar results were also obtained in sea cucumber fed diets enriched with either EPA or DHA. Interestingly, considerable levels of EPA and DHA were found in the tissues of juveniles fed diets of CK₀ and DHA₀, with no specific input of EPA or DHA, showing that the sea cucumber was capable of biosynthesizing EPA and DHA from their corresponding precursors as ALA and linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n‐6).     

Ability of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) to digest rendered animal fats from fish,poultry and mammals

This study evaluates the in vivo apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of rendered animal by‐product fats in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles. Diets contained fish oil (FOd), poultry fat (PFd) or mammal fat (MFd), from rendering animal by‐products, at 140 g/kg. Macronutrient and fatty acids ADCs were evaluated in quadruplicate tanks with fifteen 100 g fish. While total lipids ADCs (88%–90%) were unaffected, individual fatty acids ADC varied significantly among diets. Monounsaturated fatty acids ADCs were similar (94%–95%), saturated fatty acids ADCs were lowest in MFd (85% vs. 91% in PFd and FOd), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ADCs were lowest in PFd (96 vs. 97%–98%). Total n‐3 PUFA were better digested in FOd than in the other diets (98 vs. 96%–97%), while MFd had the highest total n‐6 PUFA ADC. FOd showed significantly higher EPA (20:5n‐3) and DHA (22:6n‐3) ADCs compared to the other test diets. The obtained results suggest that rendered animal fats can be considered feasible alternatives to fish oil in seabass. Nevertheless, that lack of EPA and DHA in land animal fats, combined with the reduced digestibility of these fatty acids, may compromise its dietary inclusion at high levels.     

Beef tallow is suitable as a primary lipid source in juvenile Florida pompano feeds

It is assumed that Florida pompano have dietary EPA (20:5n‐3) and DHA (22:6n‐3) requirements. However, it is unclear whether both are equally important in meeting demand for n‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC‐PUFAs) or whether the requirement(s) can be influenced by other fatty acids. Accordingly, we assessed production performance and tissue composition of juvenile Florida pompano (41.0 ± 0.5 g) fed diets containing fish oil; beef tallow; or beef tallow partially or fully supplemented with EPA, DHA or both. After 8 weeks, no signs of fatty acid deficiency were observed. Although fish performance did not vary significantly among the dietary treatments, fish fed the DHA‐supplemented feeds exhibited numerically superior growth than those fed the other diets. Fillets of fish fed the beef tallow‐based diets contained reduced levels of n‐3 fatty acids and LC‐PUFAs and elevated levels of MUFAs and n‐6 fatty acids, although dietary supplementation with EPA and/or DHA attenuated these effects somewhat. Our results suggest that beef tallow is suitable as a primary lipid source in Florida pompano feeds and n‐3 LC‐PUFA requirements may be met by as little as 4 g/kg EPA and 4 g/kg DHA. However, there may be value in supplementing tallow‐based diets with DHA to enhance tissue levels and possibly growth.     

Importance of dietary arachidonic acid for the growth,survival and stress resistance of larval European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed high dietary docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids

Together with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), arachidonic acid (ARA) is being considered to be an essential fatty acid in marine fish larval diets. The objective of the present study was to determine the importance of dietary ARA levels for larval European sea bass performance, when EPA and DHA are also present in the diet. Eighteen‐day‐old larvae were fed, for 14 days, gelatine‐based microdiets containing the following ARA levels: 0.3%, 0.6% or 1.2%. Elevation of dietary ARA up to 1.2% showed a positive correlation with larval survival and a significant improvement in the specific growth rates, body weight and total length. Arachidonic acid was efficiently incorporated into larval lipids, even at a higher proportion than that in the diets. Increased accumulation of ARA did not affect the incorporation of DHA or EPA from the diet into larval total lipids. A significant positive correlation was found between dietary ARA levels and survival after handling stress, indicating the importance of this fatty acid in sea bass larvae response to acute stressors. The results show the importance of ARA for sea bass larvae, but higher dietary levels should be tested to determine whether there is a negative effect of ARA in sea bass as reported for other species.     

Nutritional comparison in muscle of wild,pond and factory cultured Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) adults

Muscle proximate composition, amino acid profiles, fatty acid compositions and selected minerals of wild, pond and factory cultured Japanese flounder adults were compared in this study to elucidate their nutritive values and dietary nutrition requirements. Wild and pond cultured Japanese flounder flesh had higher crude proteins, but crude lipid contents of factory cultured fish were 3.8~4.0 fold greater. Major amino acids in Japanese flounder were aspartic acid, glutamic acid and lysine. Wild fish had higher levels of total amino acids, essential amino acids, nonessential amino acids and half‐essential amino acids and the contents in pond cultured samples were similar. Arachidonic acids (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA), docosahexaenoic acids (DHA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), DHA + EPA and n–3 PUFA in wild Japanese flounder were significantly higher than that in factory cultured fish, whereas fatty acid levels were close between pond cultured and wild fish. Japanese flounder were rich in zinc, iron and selenium, but poor in copper, chromium and nickel. Results indicated wild Japanese flounder had higher nutritional value and better meat quality, but the nutritional compositions of pond cultured fish were close to wild Japanese flounder, which suggested that pond culture of Japanese flounder offers broad application prospects.     

Effects of dietary docosahexaenoic acid on growth performance,fatty acid profile and lipogenesis of blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala)

Six diets were designed to investigate the effects of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n‐3; DHA) levels (0.5, 1.3, 2.3, 4.2, 8.1 and 15.9 g/kg diets) on growth performance, fatty acid profile and expression of some lipogenesis‐related genes of blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). Fish (average weight: 26.40 ± 0.11 g) were randomly fed one of six diets for 8 weeks. Results indicated that the final body weight (FBW) and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed 1.3 g/kg DHA were significantly higher than other groups except for the 2.3 g/kg DHA (p < .05). Compared with other groups, the number of lipid droplet clusters of the liver stained with oil red O in the 2.3 g/kg DHA group was the highest, which was consistent with the lipid contents of whole body and liver. The DHA proportion in liver and muscle significantly increased with the increasing dietary DHA levels (p < .05), which reflected fatty acid profiles of diets. The highest mRNA expressions of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase α (ACCα), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1 (SREBP‐1) occurred in the 1.3 g/kg DHA group, followed by 2.3 g/kg DHA. In summary, the supplementation of 1.3–2.3 g/kg DHA could improve growth performance and lipogenesis, and the dietary DHA could improve DHA and PUFA proportion in liver and muscle.     

Effects of dietary fish oil replacement by microalgae raw materials on growth performance,body composition and fatty acid profile of juvenile olive flounder,Paralichthys olivaceus

Replacing dietary fish oil with DHA‐rich microalgae Schizochytrium sp. and EPA‐rich microalgae Nannochloropsis sp. for olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) was examined. Three experimental isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets with lipid source provided by 50% fish oil (F50S50), 50% (M50F25S25) and 100% microalgae raw material (M100) respectively were compared with a soybean oil (S100) diet as control. Triplicate groups of olive flounder juveniles (16.5 ± 0.91 g) were fed the experimental diets, and a group was fed the control diets for 8 weeks in a recirculation system. Results showed feed efficiency and growth performance were not significantly changed when fish oil (FO) was totally substituted by soybean oil (SO) or microalgae raw material (MRM). The whole‐body composition, lipid content of liver and muscle, and lipid composition of plasma were not significantly influenced by the total substitution of FO by MRM. The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content of muscle and liver declined in fish fed S100 diet, whereas it was not significantly reduced in fish fed M50F25S25 and M100 diets. The total substitution of FO by MRM not only maintained the levels of arachidonic acid, EPA or DHA but also increased n‐3/n‐6 ratio. In conclusion, MRM as the sole lipid source is sufficient to obtain good feed efficiency, growth performance and human health value in olive flounder juveniles.     

Dietary n‐3 LC‐PUFAs affect lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) activities and mRNA expression during vitellogenesis and ovarian fatty acid composition of female silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) broodstock

We studied the effects of dietary n‐3 LC‐PUFAs on the activities and mRNA expression levels of tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) during vitellogenesis and ovarian fatty acid composition in female silver pomfret broodstock. Broodstock were fed one of four experimental diets for 185 days: FO (100% fish oil), FSO (70% fish oil + 30% soybean oil), SFO (30% fish oil + 70% soybean oil) or SO (100% soybean oil). The results revealed that hepatic LPL and FAS and ovarian FAS activities and mRNA expression levels significantly increased at vitellogenesis and postvitellogenesis relative to previtellogenesis, with no significant differences between these two stages, except for hepatic LPL mRNA expression. Dietary n‐3 LC‐PUFAs decreased tissue FAS and increased LPL activities and mRNA expression levels. The ovarian concentrations of 20:4n‐6 (ARA), 20:5n‐3 (EPA), 22:6n‐3 (DHA) and n‐3 LC‐PUFAs were directly influenced by n‐3 LC‐PUFA levels. Total n‐3 LC‐PUFA concentrations in SO were 57% lower than those in FO, while 18:2n‐6 concentrations in SO were 4.7 ×  higher than those in FO. These results revealed that high dietary n‐3 LC‐PUFAs levels significantly affected tissue lipid metabolism in female silver pomfret broodstock during vitellogenesis by upregulating LPL and downregulating FAS.     

Fatty acid composition,osmolality, Na+, K+‐ATPase activity,cortisol content and antioxidant status of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in response to various dietary levels of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels on the fatty acid composition, salinity tolerance and antioxidant status of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Four diets were formulated with total EPA and DHA contents of 5.41, 9.55, 13.97 and 17.88 g/kg (abbreviated as ED‐5.41, ED‐9.55, ED‐13.97 and ED‐17.88 respectively). Rainbow trout (initial weight of 90.61 ± 9.25 g) were fed the experimental diets for 8 weeks to accumulate significant differences in fatty acid composition and subsequently underwent salinity acclimation. Our results indicated that high dietary EPA and DHA significantly improved the EPA and DHA content in fish tissues. The serum osmolality of fish returned to their freshwater values in the ED‐9.55, ED‐13.97 and ED‐17.88 groups. The Na⁺, K⁺‐ATPase (NKA) activity of fish in the ED‐13.97 group changed dramatically to adapt the fish to the hypertonic environment. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the serum cortisol concentration and liver catalase (CAT) activity of fish in the ED‐13.97 group during salinity acclimation. The liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the ED‐13.97 group was significantly higher than that in ED‐5.41 and ED‐9.55 groups at the end of salinity acclimation. The muscle malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the ED‐13.97 group was significantly lower than that in the ED‐17.88 group before salinity acclimation and significantly lower than the ED‐5.41 and ED‐17.88 groups on day 7 of acclimation. The results of this study indicate that the rainbow trout in the ED‐13.97 group exhibited optimal salinity acclimation performance.     

饲料中花生四烯酸水平对凡纳滨对虾免疫相关基因表达及抗菌能力的影响

为了评估饲料中花生四烯酸(arachidonic acid,ARA)水平对凡纳滨对虾免疫相关基因表达及抗菌能力的影响,分别以鱼油和混合植物油为脂肪源,设计了2个系列共9组不同ARA含量的等氮等能,且具备相同饱和脂肪酸(SFA)、单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFA)、多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)和n-3/n-6比例的实验饲料,投喂对虾6周后,检测各组对虾在急性感染溶藻弧菌0、24、36和42 h时鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD(immune deficiency)和溶菌酶m RNA表达量,并统计感染后96 h内对虾的死亡情况。结果表明:1对虾摄食以鱼油为脂肪源的饲料[饲料DHA(22:6n-3)和EPA(20:5n-3)含量分别为5.85和3.83 mg/g饲料],其鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶m RNA表达量均随饲料中ARA含量的升高呈现先升高后下降的变化;0.56(B组)和0.87 mg ARA/g饲料组(C组)对虾溶菌酶m RNA表达量显著高于0.44(A组)、1.02(D组)和0.28 mg ARA/g饲料组(E组)(P0.05);对虾摄食以植物混合油为脂肪源的饲料(DHA和EPA含量分别为3.28和1.87 mg/g饲料),其鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶m RNA表达量随饲料中ARA含量的升高而升高;1.44 mg ARA/g饲料组(I组)对虾Toll受体m RNA表达量显著高于0.19 mg ARA/g饲料组(F组)(P0.05)。2人工急性感染溶藻弧菌后,各组对虾鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶m RNA的表达量随感染进程均出现显著变化。摄食以鱼油为脂肪源的饲料时,对虾鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶m RNA表达量峰值均出现在0.56 mg ARA/g饲料组(B组),且峰值分别出现在感染后24、42和24 h。摄食以混合植物油为脂肪源的饲料时,对虾鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶m RNA表达量峰值均出现在1.44 mg ARA/g饲料组(I组),且峰值分别出现在感染后24、42和36 h。3各实验组对虾急性感染溶藻弧菌后96 h累积死亡率无显著差异。本研究表明,饲料ARA水平影响凡纳滨对虾免疫相关基因(Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶)的表达,且ARA调控免疫基因表达的效果受饲料EPA和DHA水平的影响。     

Complete repertoire of long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids biosynthesis enzymes in a cyprinid,silver barb (Barbonymus gonionotus): Cloning,functional characterization and dietary regulation of Elovl2 and Elovl4

The silver barb (Barbonymus gonionotus) is a valuable cyprinid with good deposition of long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC‐PUFA) such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). We have previously isolated a fatty acyl desaturase (Fads2) and elongase (Elovl5), which fulfils the production of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) from C18 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) substrates. The isolation, functional characterization and dietary regulation of two elongases, Elovl2 and Elovl4, are reported here. The Elovl2 displayed the capacity to elongate C20 and C22 PUFA substrates, while the showed low activities towards saturated fatty acids and C22 PUFA substrates. This discovery validates the existence of a complete set of enzymes of LC‐PUFA in silver barb. The elovl2 showed higher expression in liver, in limited dietary LC‐PUFA intake conditions. As for Elovl4, tissue expression showed prominence in eye tissue. We also showed that the expression of both genes was upregulated when fish was fed with diets devoid of LC‐PUFA. Fatty acid composition analysis indicates the utilization of C18 polyunsaturated fatty acids for LC‐PUFA biosynthesis.     

Growth and fatty acid composition of juvenile Cerastoderma edule (L.) fed live microalgae diets with different fatty acid profiles

The importance of dietary 20:5n‐3 (EPA), 22:6n‐3 (DHA) and 20:4n‐6 (ARA) for growth, survival and fatty acid composition of juvenile cockles (Cerastoderma edule) was investigated. Cockles of 6.24 ± 0.04 mm and 66.14 ± 0.34 mg (live weight) were distributed into three treatments where live microalgae diets were fed constantly below the pseudofaeces production threshold, for three weeks. Diets had distinct fatty acid profiles: high EPA (53% Chaetoceros muelleri + 47% Pyramimonas parkeae), no DHA (47% Brachiomonas submarina + 53% Tetraselmis suecica) and low ARA concentrations (73% P. parkeae + 27% Phaeodactylum tricornutum). Growth was positively affected by high EPA and low ARA diets, whereas no significant growth was observed for the no DHA diet. High mortality of cockles fed no DHA diet raises questions about its suitability for cockles. In balanced diets with EPA and DHA, lower concentrations of ARA do not limit growth. The impact of dietary fatty acids was evident in the fatty acids of neutral and polar lipids of cockles. In polar lipids of all cockles, there was a decrease in EPA, in contrast to an increase in DHA. The combination of EPA and DHA in a live microalgae diet was beneficial for the growth and survival of juvenile cockles.     

Combined effects of dietary mannan oligosaccharides and total fish oil substitution by soybean oil on European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juvenile diets

This study evaluates the effects of dietary mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) on growth, tissue composition, fatty acid profiles and liver morphology of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed diets containing either soybean oil (SBO; SBOMOS) or fish oil (FO; FOMOS) as unique oil source for 8 weeks. Results showed that MOS supplementation enhanced specific growth rate, regardless of the oil source used, and that dietary oil source reduced fish length, regardless of dietary MOS supplementation. Dietary MOS favoured lipid accumulation in muscle and anterior intestine when supplemented in FO‐based diets compared to fish fed SBO diet and reduces it in liver in relation to lower hepatocyte area, particularly in fish fed SBOMOS diet. Dietary MOS favoured liver and not muscular ∑n‐3 PUFA, DHA, EPA and ARA deposition, when combined with FO but not when included in SBO‐based diets. Thus, MOS dietary supplementation favours fish performance and helps to minimize the side effects derived from high dietary SBO supplementation on liver lipid accumulation and hepatocyte vacuolization, which could be of especial interest on long‐term feeding trials; however, the effects on favoured deposition ∑n‐3 PUFA are limited to FO‐based diets.     

Dietary ratios of n‐3/n‐6 fatty acids do not affect growth of Nile tilapia at optimal temperatures (28°C) nor at temperatures that simulate the onset of winter (22°C)

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) juveniles were fed diets containing 13 g/kg total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) at different n‐3/n‐6 dietary ratios (0.2, 0.5, 0.8, 1.3 and 2.9) for 56 days, at 28°C. Subsequently, fish were submitted to a winter‐onset simulation (22°C) for 33 days. PUFA n‐3/n‐6 dietary ratios did not affect fish growth at either temperature. At 28°C, tilapia body fat composition increased with decreasing dietary PUFA n‐3/n‐6. Winter‐onset simulation significantly changed feed intake. The lowest dietary n‐3/n‐6 ratio resulted in the highest feed intake. At both temperatures, body concentrations of α‐linolenic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosatrienoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid decreased as dietary n‐3/n‐6 decreased. Body concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 n‐3) increased with decreasing concentrations of dietary EPA. The n‐6 fatty acids with the highest concentrations in tilapia bodies were linoleic acid and arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4 n‐6). At 28°C, SREBP1 gene expression was upregulated in tilapia fed the lowest n‐3/n‐6 diet compared to tilapia fed the highest n‐3/n‐6 ratio diet. Our results demonstrate that a dietary PUFA of 13 g/kg, regardless of the n‐3/n‐6 ratio, can promote weight gains of 2.65 g/fish per day at 28°C and 2.35 g/fish per day at 22°C.     

Effect of dietary arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on survival, growth and pigmentation in larvae of common sole (Solea solea L.)

Evidence confirms that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid, DHA are involved in growth as well in pigmentation of marine fish larvae.In the present study we examined the performance of common sole larvae reared on Artemia enriched with 10 formulated emulsions, differing in inclusions of ARA, EPA, and DHA. The specific growth rate of the sole larvae until late metamorphosis, 21 days after hatching (dah) was 20 to 27% d^− 1. Even though the relative tissue essential fatty acid (EFA) concentrations significantly reflected dietary composition, neither standard growth nor larval survival were significantly related to the absolute concentrations of ARA, EPA and DHA or their ratios. This suggests low requirements for essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in common sole. Malpigmentation was significantly related to increased dietary ARA content. However, pigmentation was not affected by inclusion levels of EPA or DHA when ARA was high. This, and no relation between DHA: EPA or ARA: EPA ratios and pigmentation and only a weak relation to ARA: DHA ratio, advocate for that it is the absolute concentration of ARA in larval tissues, that is responsible for malpigmentation rather than the relative concentration to other PUFAs.Within malpigmentation, the trait “albinism” was characterised by an abnormal incomplete eye migration, but this trait is suggested not to be related to dietary ARA. Furthermore, albinism resulted in a lower growth rate, which suggests that visual aberrations affected prey capture.     

Effects of different dietary arachidonic acid : docosahexaenoic acid ratios on phospholipid fatty acid compositions and prostaglandin production in juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

Five purified diets containing AA (20:4n-6) at 0.02–0.78% dry weight and DHA (22:6n-3) at 0.93–0.17% dry weight were fed to duplicate groups of juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) of initial weight 0.87 g for a period of 11 weeks. The dietary DHA:AA ratio ranged from 62 to 0.2. Incorporation of AA into liver phospholipids increased with increasing dietary AA input. Phospholipids from fish fed diets containing 0.02, 0.06 and 0.11% of dry weight as AA generally contained less AA compared to fish fed fish oil while those fed diets containing 0.35 and 0.78% of dry weight as AA had higher AA levels in their phospholipids. The highest levels of AA were found in PI but the greatest percentage increase in AA incorporation was in PE and PC. Brain phospholipid fatty acid compositions were less altered by dietary treatment than those of liver but DHA content of PC and PE in brain was substantially lower in fish fed 0.93% pure DHA compared to those fed fish oil. This suggests that dietary DHA must exceed 1% of dry weight to satisfy the requirements of the developing neural system in juvenile turbot. In both tissues, (20:5n-3) concentration was inversely related to both dietary and tissue PI AA concentration. Similar dietary induced changes in AA, EPA and DHA concentrations occurred in the phospholipids of heart, gill and kidney. PGE₂ and 6-ketoPGF₁ were measured in homogenates of heart, brain, gill and kidney. In general, fish fed the lowest dietary AA levels had reduced levels of prostaglandins in their tissue homogenates while those fed the highest level of AA had increased prostaglandin levels, compared to fish fed fish oil. In brains, the PGE₂ concentration was only significantly increased in fish fed the highest dietary AA.Abbreviations AA arachidonic acid - DHA docosahexaenoic acid - EFA essential fatty acid - EPA eicosapentaenoic acid - HPTLC high performance thin-layer chromatography - HUFA highly unsaturated fatty acid - PC phosphatidylcholine - PE phosphatidylethanolamine - PGE prostaglandin E - PGE prostaglandin E - PI phosphatidylinositol - PS phosphatidylserine - PUFA polyunsaturated fatty acid - TLC thin-layer chromatography     

Growth, survival, lipid composition and pigmentation of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) larvae fed live-prey enriched in Arachidonic and Eicosapentaenoic acids

Turbot larvae were fed live-prey enriched with different levels of arachidonic (ARA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids to study the effects of these fatty acids on body composition and pigmentation success. Significantly reduced pigmentation was obtained in those fish fed medium and high ARA diets for 43 days. Growth and survival were the same for all groups. The incorporation of ARA and EPA in fish eyes, brains, livers and carcasses reflected the percentage of these fatty acids in the diets. ARA accumulation was similar in all tissues, but brain accumulated EPA was less efficient than the other tissues examined. A highly significant, negative correlation was found between the %ARA in turbot juvenile brain total lipids and pigmentation success. A weaker, positive correlation was found between brain EPA and pigmentation. Increasing dietary ARA affected the fatty acid composition of turbot brain phosphoglycerides more than increasing dietary EPA, especially in phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). A negative relationship was found between percentage normal pigmentation and ARA levels in brain phosphatidylcholine (PC), PE and phosphatidylserine (PS). Elevated levels of ARA in PI also resulted in malpigmented juveniles, but EPA:ARA ratios ≥1 in PI were associated with normal pigmentation. We conclude that, given a sufficiency of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the optimum dietary level of EPA is not a function of DHA, but of dietary ARA.     

A study of the arachidonic acid requirements of the giant tiger prawn, Penaues monodon

This study examined the dietary requirement of arachidonic acid (ARA) when that of linoleic acid (LOA), the natural precursor to ARA, was also satisfied with linolenic acid (LNA) and also with and without the other key dietary highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA). Growth by prawns fed diets supplemented with ARA was poorer than in diets where it was not present. Supplementation of ARA to diets with either optimized HUFA or just optimised poly unsaurated fatty acids (PUFA) (i.e. LOA, LNA) resulted in poorer growth. Growth was poorest by prawns (215 ± 13%) fed diets with ARA supplemented at 20% of the total fatty acids but including 7% LOA, 21% LNA and 4% of both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Growth was best in prawns fed diets devoid of ARA but with 7% LOA and 21% LNA (350 ± 19%). Prawns fed the reference diet (348 ± 21%) and the other diet devoid of ARA but containing about 7% LOA, 21% LNA and 4% of both EPA and DHA (345 ± 18%) had similar growth. The growth responses were not effects of altered lipid or fatty acid digestibilities. Indeed supplementation of ARA to the diet marginally improved the digestibility of the total neutral lipid in the diet and the digestibilities of some other dietary fatty acids. The amount of lipid in the digestive glands of prawns fed with the diets was reduced by the inclusion of ARA in the dietary lipids. Composition of the lipids in the digestive gland (DG) of the prawns was almost directly related to the composition of their dietary lipids. The proportion of ARA in the total fatty acids increased with level of supplementation of dietary ARA. An increased level of dietary ARA reduced the proportion of EPA, DHA in the DG lipid and also the total n‐3 and n‐6 fatty acids in the DG lipid. The results of this study support that addition of ARA to the diet of Penaues monodon when the other key essential fatty acids (EFA) have been optimized, does not improve their growth performance. It is suggested that key cause for this response may lie in the importance of the balance of the n‐3 to n‐6 fatty acids in the diet of these animals.