Different lipid scenarios in three lean marine teleosts having different lipid storage patterns

Abstract

This study investigated the lipid composition characteristics in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus), tiger puffer (Takifugu rubripes), and Japanese seabass (Lateolabrax japonicus), three important aquaculture species having different lipid storage patterns. All fish were fed the same diet for 9 weeks prior to analysis, in order to minimize the effects of their respective previous diets. Lipid concentration, fatty acid composition, and lipid metabolism-related biochemical parameters in various tissues of these three species analyzed. Gallbladder bile acid profile and muscle texture were also analyzed. Results of this study evidenced that turbot, tiger puffer, and Japanese seabass used subcutaneous adipose tissue, liver, and intraperitoneal adipose tissue as the predominant lipid storage site, respectively. Japanese seabass muscle had the highest contents of total lipid and triacylglycerol, and tiger puffer muscle had the lowest lipid content but the highest hardness. Low DHA/EPA ratio and high 18:0 and n-6 PUFA contents were the most distinctive characteristic of muscle fatty acid profile in Japanese seabass and tiger puffer, respectively. The analysis of cholesterol and gallbladder bile acid profile also provided basic information for lipid physiology in farmed fish having different lipid storage patterns. In conclusion, the lipid storage pattern in marine teleost probably largely determines the lipid composition characteristics.