Changes in lipid class and fatty acid composition of adult male Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) in response to culture temperature and food deprivation

The effects of culture temperature and food deprivation on lipid class and fatty acid composition of adult male Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) were investigated. Shrimp were maintained in recirculating seawater systems at temperatures of 26 and 32°C and fed 75% dry commercial feed and 25% fresh‐frozen squid for 42 days. Additionally, groups of fed and non‐fed shrimp were maintained at 26°C for 17 days. In shrimp fed at either 26 or 32°C, polar lipids were the main constituents of total identified lipid classes in muscle tissue (66–71%), while neutral lipids were more abundant in hepatopancreas (82–88%). Higher levels of triglycerides were observed in lipids of shrimp hepatopancreas kept at 32°C, but no other lipid class was affected by temperature. A significantly higher proportion of 22:6n‐3 was consistent in muscle and hepatopancreas polar and neutral lipids of shrimp maintained at 26°C. In response to food deprivation, the amount of polar lipids, but not neutral lipids, was reduced by approximately 28% in muscle tissue, whereas all lipid reserves were almost depleted in the hepatopancreas. The variable consumption of some individual fatty acids was observed in polar and neutral lipids of both tissues.