Effect of dietary carbohydrate on gonadal development in broodstock cod, Gadus morhua L.

Diets with increasing levels of potato and maize starch were fed to duplicate groups of maturing cod, Gadus morhuaL., from June 1991 to January 1992.The level of starch in the diet did not influence feed conversion factors, broodfish growth or gonadal development. Low levels of fillet glycogen were measured at all samplings, without variations according to dietary starch, or to developmental stage of the brood fish. During the reproductive phase no decreases were measured in relative liver size or liver protein, lipid or glycogen, indicating no net use of stored energy from the liver to build up gonads as long as the fish was offered feed. The variations in dietary starch vs. protein did not alter the composition of gonad dry matter, protein, lipid or glycogen levels. However, dry matter and protein levels increased during maturation in all groups. Plasma glucose levels were within normal ranges in all dietary groups at all sampling times, indicating no negative effects of high levels of dietary starch in brood fish, as also confirmed by stable and normal haematocrit, red blood cell count, and mean cell volume in blood. Haemoglobin, mean cell haematocrit and mean cell haemoglobin concentration decreased during the reproductive phase. Serum haemolytic complement activity did not vary between dietary treatments. Glycogen, dry matter, protein and lipid levels in eggs did not vary between dietary treatments of brood fish. Very low levels of glycogen were measured, suggesting that this energy reserve was of minor importance. Dry matter and lipid levels were quite stable in relation to egg developmental stage: protein levels decreased from day 0 until hatching.