Nucleic acids and fatty acids of the common octopus, Octopus vulgaris, in relation to the growth rate

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the ribonucleic acid (RNA)/deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) ratio and the fatty acid composition of cultured Octopus vulgaris (50–750 g) in relation to recent (last 30 days) specific growth rate (SGR). Wild animals (80–500 g), collected in the field throughout the year (Aegean Sea, Mediterranean), were also examined for the aforementioned biochemical parameters. Octopuses were reared in a closed seawater system at three different temperatures (15, 20 and 25 °C). The octopuses were fed on squid (Loligo vulgaris). The cultured animals showed a high n-3 (33–52.9%) and n-6 (3.3–13.7%) polyunsaturated fatty acid content, but with a high variation for 22:6n-3 [docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)], 20:5n-3 [eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)] and 20:4n-6 [arachidonic acid (AA)]. The proportion of these fatty acids (% total fatty acids) and the RNA/DNA ratio were linearly (P<0.0001) related to SGR. Specifically, RNA/DNA (0.5–1.9) and AA (2.7–10.7%) increased, while EPA (10.4–19.7%) and DHA (20.8–31.9%) decreased, with increasing SGR (0.4–1.7% day−1). The highest levels of SGR, RNA/DNA and AA were detected in small (50–150 g) octopuses reared at 20 and 25 °C and in large (500–750 g) animals reared at 15 °C. Similar RNA/DNA levels and fatty acid percentages were found in wild octopuses. It is concluded that RNA/DNA, DHA, EPA and AA could be used as biochemical indices for predicting the growth rate of O. vulgaris.