Rapid effects of essential fatty acid deficiency on growth and development parameters and transcription of key fatty acid metabolism genes in juvenile barramundi (Lates calcarifer)

• Main Authors: Michael Salini, Giovanni Turchini, N M Wade, B D Glencross
• Format: Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: Uncategorized; Aetiology; Barramundi; Deficiency; EFA essential fatty acid; Essential fatty acids; FM fish meal; FO fish oil; GLDH glutamate dehydrogenase; LC-PUFA long-chain PUFA; Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Nutrition & Dietetics; ASIAN SEA-BASS; DIETARY DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID; SALMO-SALAR L; ATLANTIC SALMON; FISH-OIL; VEGETABLE-OILS; STEARIDONIC ACID; FEED-UTILIZATION; RAINBOW-TROUT; FLESH QUALITY; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30079366; https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Rapid_effects_of_essential_fatty_acid_deficiency_on_growth_and_development_parameters_and_transcription_of_key_fatty_acid_metabolism_genes_in_juvenile_barramundi_Lates_calcarifer_/20897071

Barramundi (Lates calcarifer), a catadromous teleost of significant and growing commercial importance, are reported to have limited fatty acid bioconversion capability and therefore require preformed long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) as dietary essential fatty acid (EFA). In this study, the response of juvenile barramundi (47·0 g/fish initial weight) fed isolipidic and isoenergetic diets with 8·2 % added oil was tested. The experimental test diets were either devoid of fish oil (FO), and thus with no n-3 LC-PUFA (FO FREE diet), or with a low inclusion of FO (FO LOW diet). These were compared against a control diet containing only FO (FO CTRL diet) as the added lipid source, over an 8-week period. Interim samples and measurements were taken fortnightly during the trial in order to define the aetiology of the onset and progression of EFA deficiency. After 2 weeks, the fish fed the FO FREE and FO LOW diets had significantly lower live-weights, and after 8 weeks significant differences were detected for all performance parameters. The fish fed the FO FREE diet also had a significantly higher incidence of external abnormalities. The transcription of several genes involved in fatty acid metabolism was affected after 2 weeks of feeding, showing a rapid nutritional regulation. This experiment documents the aetiology of the onset and the progression of EFA deficiency in juvenile barramundi and demonstrates that such deficiencies can be detected within 2 weeks in juvenile fish.