Lipid and fatty acid composition of female
gilthead seabream during their reproductive cycle: effects of a diet lacking
n-3 HUFA
E. almansa,
M.V. Martín, J.R. Cejas, P. Badía, S. Jerez, A. Lorenzo-2001
Journal of Fish Biology,
59(2): 267-286
Abstract:
In female sea bream Sparus aurata
fed a control diet (C), ovarian levels of neutral lipids (NL) and
polar lipids (PL) remained constant between November
and March, while a decrease in NL content was observed
in liver and muscle. In the same period, liver PL content
increased, while no changes were observed in muscle.
Between March and June ovarian NL and PL showed a
strong decrease, while NL remained constant in liver
and muscle. When fish were fed a diet lacking in n-3
highly unsaturated fatty acids, n-3 HUFA (D), the
pattern observed was similar to that found in the fish
fed diet C, with the exception of liver NL, which
increased between March and June. In general, the changes
in fatty acid content, in both groups of fish, were
highly influenced by the diet given to the broodstock,
although these effects were greater on ovarian NL and PL
than on liver and muscle lipids. Despite the fact that
gilthead seabream females continue feeding during the
spawning season, they probably make use of their liver
and muscle reserves during the gonadal maturation
process. Furthermore, the fatty acid composition of
the broodstock diet was reflected in the body
composition, especially in the ovaries.
(Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Biología,
Universidad de La Laguna, 38206, Tenerife, Spain, Tel.: +34922318337; fax:
+34922318311; e-mail:ealmansa@ull.es)