ABSTRACT. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of a high-carbohydrate diet (HC) and a high-protein diet (HP) on the metabolism of the crayfish Parastacus brasiliensis (Von Martens, 1869), collected in different seasons and maintained in the laboratory for 15 days. Crayfish were collected monthly from January 2002 to January 2004 at São Francisco de Paula, Southern Brazil, in Guarapirá stream. In the laboratory, the animals were kept submerged in aquariums under controlled conditions. They were fed ad libitum, for 15 days with either a HC or HP diet. At the end of this period, haemolymph samples were collected, as were hepatopancreas, gills, and abdominal muscle that were removed for determination of glycogen, free glucose, lipids, and triglycerides. The haemolymph samples were used for determination of glucose, proteins, lipids, and triglycerides. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) revealed significant seasonal differences in biochemical composition in crayfish maintained on HC or HP diets. Independent of the diets offered to the animals and the controlled conditions for 15 days, the indications of seasonality were unchanged. The observed changes seemed to be related to the reproductive period. Moreover, the HC diet increased all energy reserves in adult parastacids, which may aid in reproduction.
KEYWORDS.Crayfish, experimental culture, diet, metabolism, seasonality. Após o final do período, as amostras de hemolinfa foram coletadas, assim como o hepatopâncreas, as brânquias e o músculo abdominal foram removidos para a determinação do glicogênio, glicose livre, lipídios e triglicerídeos. As amostras de hemolinfa foram usadas para a determinação da glicose, proteínas, lipídios e triglicerídeos. As análises estatísticas (ANOVA) revelaram uma diferença sazonal significativa na composição bioquímica nos lagostins mantidos com dieta HC ou HP. Independente da dieta oferecida para os animais e das condições controladas por 15 dias, não foi possível alterar os perfis metabólicos encontrados sazonalmente nos animais em campo. As mudanças observadas parecem estar relacionadas ao período reprodutivo. Além disso, a dieta HC aumentou todas as reservas energéticas nos parastacídeos adultos, o que pode auxiliar na reprodução.
RESUMO. Variações sazonais do efeito de uma dieta rica em carboidrato e rica em proteínas no metabolismo intermediário de
PALAVRAS-CHAVE.Lagostim, cultivo experimental, dieta, metabolismo e sazonalidade.