Digestive enzyme activity of the red porgy (Pagrus pagrus, L.) during larval development under culture conditions

The ontogenic development of the main digestive enzymes (proteases, amylase and lipase) in the red porgy, Pagrus pagrus, larvae was assayed during the larval development. The green water technique was carried out for larval rearing and whole‐body homogenates were used for enzymatic assays in triplicate. Significant alterations in specific activities of all digestive enzymes measured during the period of this study were mostly related to metamorphosis and weaning. Trypsin‐ and chymotrypsin‐specific activities were first detected on day 3, together with opening of the mouth, and slightly increased until 25 days after hatching (DAH). After this period, the specific activities of these enzymes slightly decreased. Pepsin was first detected on day 28, concurrent with stomach formation, and a sharp increase was observed until 30 DAH. A slight decrease was measured from this date until the end of the experiment. Both amylase and lipase were measured for the first time on days 2 and 4 respectively, and the specific activities of these enzymes showed similar patterns during the first week of the study. Then, slight variations were observed until 30 DAH and while lipase‐specific activity declined, an increase in the specific activity of amylase was found until the end of the experiment. It is concluded that the variations observed in the specific activity of digestive enzymes were related to either metamorphosis, such as the formation of the stomach (28 DAH), or to changes in food composition. The profile of the developmental pattern of the main digestive enzymes detected in P. pagrus is similar to that described for other Sparid species.