Polyunsaturated fatty acids and neutral lipids in developing larvae of the oyster,Crassostrea virginica

Abstract

AbstractThe fatty acid composition of oyster larvae at various stages, as well as of the algal diet, were determined by gas liquid chromatography (GC). Saturated fatty acids are the major fatty acid components in all larval stages and account for 34–62%, 30–35% and 35–81% of the neutral, polar and total lipids of algal‐fed larvae respectively. Weight percentage of saturated fatty acid in “starved” larvae was consistently higher (63–81%) during the whole period. The total polyunsaturated fatty acids were higher in the polar lipids than in the neutral lipids. The concentration of the ω3 fatty acids also was comparatively higher in the polar lipids than in the neutral lipids. In the total and neutral lipid fractions, the weight percentage of polyunsaturated and ω3 fatty acids was higher in the eyed than in the pre‐eyed (pediveliger) larvae. Eicosapentaenoic acid (20∶5ω3) and 22∶6ω3 were not detected in lipids of “starved” and young larvae. There was an accumulation of 20∶5ω3, 22∶6ω3, and total ω3 fatty acids in the older larvae. Lipid classes were separated by thin layer chromatography (TLC). There was no qualitative change in lipid composition during larval development, but a marked increased of triacylglycerol in larvae up to the stage of maturation in algae‐fed larvae.