Lipid and fatty acid composition of female gilthead seabream during their reproductive cycle: effects of a diet lacking n‐3 HUFA

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. 2001 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles

Effect of varying dietary lipid and protein levels on growth and reproductive performance of female swordtails Xiphophorus helleri (Poeciliidae)

“…Oocyte maturation involves transportation and accumulation of protein and lipid into oocytes (Tyler & sumpter 1996). Depending on species, lipids for oocyte accumulation could be obtained from muscle reserves or dietary intake (Almansa, Martin, Cejas, Badia, Jerez & Lorenzo 2001; Cejas, Almansa, Villamandos, Badia Balanos & Lorenzo 2003). The inferior ovarian mass in fish fed dietary protein 20% therefore could indicate that 20% dietary protein level could be below the optimal requirement for proper oocyte development in female swordtail.…”

Fatty acid composition and volatile compounds of caviar from farmed white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)

“…Amongst the unsaturated fatty acids, oleic acid (OA, 18:1 n-9) was the most abundant followed by docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) and eicopentaenoic (EPA, 20:5 n-3). The high levels of 18:1 n-9 and 22:6 n-3 in caviar reflect the importance of these fatty acids as energy reserve and a temporary reservoir of PUFA for future embryonic development, as clearly documented for other species [36,37].…”

“…Few studies have addressed the issue of eggs quality and nutritional composition of diets; however, the duration of the period during which the broodstock should be fed a diet in order to affect the chemical composition of eggs is not completely clarified. Almansa et al [36] showed that 2 months of feeding before the spawning season were not sufficient to alter the chemical composition of egg quality in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). Leray et al [38] concluded that in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) only a long period of n-3 fatty acid deficiency is able to greatly alter egg lipids.…”

Biometric and metabolic profiles associated to different rearing conditions in offshore farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.)

“…We suggest that such evidence is due to a combined effect of fish adaptation to water temperature of Cage A fish and lipid mobilization for gonad development in fish caught in October. Fish from Cage B was indeed sampled at the beginning of its reproductive period (approximately from October to December in the Mediterranean area), when fish start to decrease food intake and use nutrients, especially lipids, from endogenous reserves for gonad growth . This is also in keeping with a reduction of K in October with respect to May.…”