Skeletal lipid depletion in spawning salmon

• Published in: Lipids
• Main Authors: Phleger, C. F., Laub, R. J., Benson, A. A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1989
• Subjects: Cell Biology; Organic Chemistry; Biochemistry; Pacific; Sockeye; Keta; Oncorhynchus gorbuscha; Pink salmon
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/bf02535164; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1007/BF02535164

Abstract Skeletal tissues in Pacific salmon are composed of significant amounts of lipid (which serves as an energy supply), that is then depleted during migration and freshwater spawning. The vertebral centra and neurocrania of ocean prespawning pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha , although composed respectively of 2.9–13% and 0.5–6.3% lipid (each by dry weight), amount only to 0–1.6% and 0–1.4% in river postspawning individuals. The skeletal lipids are 91–98% triacylglycerol with only small amounts of phospholipid and cholesterol. Triacylglycerols of carbon numbers 47, 49 and 51 are selectively depleted during spawning, whereas there are increases in the relative amounts of those of carbon numbers 55, 57, 59 and 61. The patterns of variation of the skeletal lipids of coho salmon, O. kisutch , chum salmon, O. keta , and sockeye salmon, O. nerka are similar to those of O. gorbuscha .