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). Issue 11 (28th September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Salini, Michael J.; Turchini, Giovanni M.; Wade, Nicholas M.; Glencross, Brett D.
• Is Part Of: British journal of nutrition. Volume 114:Issue 11(2015)
• Page Start: 1784
• Page End: 1796
• Publication Date: 2015-09-28
• Subjects: Essential fatty acids, -- Deficiency, -- Aetiology, -- Barramundi; Nutrition -- Periodicals; 572.4
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007114515003529
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1145

Abstract

Abstract: 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.