Vitamin
E in early stages of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) development
G.
Guerriero, R. Ferro, G.L. Russo, G. Ciarcia-2004
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology part A: Molecular & Integrative
Physiology, 138(4): 405-542
Abstract:
This
study reports titration of vitamin E levels in the sea bass (Dicentrarchus
labrax) using high-pressure liquid chromatography. The first part of the
work is devoted to vitamin E detection in: (1) plasma of maturing females
and males characterized by different body sizes; (2) seminal fluid and eggs;
and (3) developing embryos of sea bass fed with vitamin E. In the second
part of the study, variations of vitamin E levels during larval development
are analyzed. The results show a direct correlation between plasma vitamin E
content and body size for both adult male and female sea bass. High vitamin
E levels were found in seminal fluid, in eggs before and after
fertilization, and in embryos during development and at hatching, whereas
vitamin E level was low in dead embryos and in embryos with limited
survival. During larval development, the vitamin E content decreased slowly
but steadily during the first four days of larval growth; subsequently, it
progressively increased from day 9 to day 40. In teratogenic larvae, vitamin
E content was significantly higher than in normal larvae. This study
provides evidence on how vitamin E exerts an antioxidant defense in sea bass
reproduction.
(Department
of Zoology, “Federico II” University of Naples, Via Mezzocannone,
8-80134 Napoli, Italy, e-mail: giulia.guerriero@unina.it)