Open AccessModification of essential fatty acid composition in broodstock of cultured E uropean eel A nguilla anguilla L
Author(s) -
Støttrup J.G.,
Jacobsen C.,
Tomkiewicz J.,
Jarlbæk H.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
aquaculture nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.941
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1365-2095
pISSN - 1353-5773
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2095.2012.00967.x
Subject(s) - broodstock , biology , arachidonic acid , docosahexaenoic acid , eicosapentaenoic acid , vitellogenesis , essential fatty acid , fatty acid , medicine , endocrinology , zoology , biochemistry , fishery , aquaculture , polyunsaturated fatty acid , fish <actinopterygii> , oocyte , embryo , enzyme
Farmed eels had lower levels of arachidonic acid (20:4 n‐6) ( ARA ) and higher ratios of eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 n‐3) ( EPA ): ARA compared to wild E uropean eels collected from the B altic S ea and southern N orwegian coast. Eels fed a formulated feed ( JD ) with a distribution of essential fatty acids ( EFA ) resembling wild E uropean eel were sampled after 0, 5, 10, 14 and 44 weeks of feeding to examine changes in fatty acid composition ( FAC ) in ovaries, visceral fat and muscle. The results showed a slow but steady incorporation of EFA . Lipids are incorporated in the oocytes early in oogenesis, and the leading cohort of oocytes is rich in lipid droplets before the onset of vitellogenesis. This indicates that feeding with optimized broodstock feeds should start early to allow the incorporation of EFA in the first cohort of oocytes. At least 14 weeks of feeding is required to change lipid EFA in broodstock eel to resemble EFA in the diet or in wild fish. After 44 weeks of feeding, ARA was significantly higher in the neutral lipids of ovaries (1.9%) compared to visceral fat (1.2%) or muscle (1.0%). EPA : ARA ratios decreased two‐ to threefold in all tissues examined during that time. ARA and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n‐3) ( DHA ) had accumulated in ovarian polar lipids.