Seasonal variation of the effect of high-carbohydrate and high-protein diets on the intermediate metabolism of Parastacus brasiliensis (Crustacea, Decapoda, Parastacidae) maintained in the laboratory

Bibiana K Dutra,Maria R Conter,Karina M Da Silva,Guendalina T Oliveira,Caroline Zank

doi:10.1590/s0073-47212008000400003

Bibiana K Dutra, Maria R Conter + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0073-47212008000400003

Copy DOI

Abstract

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of a high-carbohydrate diet (HC) and a high-protein diet (HP) on the metabolism of the crayfish Parastacus brasiliensis (Von Martens, 1869), collected in different seasons and maintained in the laboratory for 15 days. Crayfish were collected monthly from January 2002 to January 2004 at São Francisco de Paula, Southern Brazil, in Guarapirá stream. In the laboratory, the animals were kept submerged in aquariums under controlled conditions. They were fed ad libitum, for 15 days with either a HC or HP diet. At the end of this period, haemolymph samples were collected, as were hepatopancreas, gills, and abdominal muscle that were removed for determination of glycogen, free glucose, lipids, and triglycerides. The haemolymph samples were used for determination of glucose, proteins, lipids, and triglycerides. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) revealed significant seasonal differences in biochemical composition in crayfish maintained on HC or HP diets. Independent of the diets offered to the animals and the controlled conditions for 15 days, the indications of seasonality were unchanged. The observed changes seemed to be related to the reproductive period. Moreover, the HC diet increased all energy reserves in adult parastacids, which may aid in reproduction.

Highlights

The present study aims to study the effect of a high-carbohydrate diet (HC) or high-protein diet (HP) on seasonal variations in energy metabolism in different tissues of individuals of the freshwater crayfish Parastacus brasiliensis (Von Martens, 1869) maintained for 15 days in the laboratory
A similar metabolic response pattern was previously observed in an estuarine crab and a freshwater anomuran, Chasmagnathus granulatus (Dana, 1851) and Aegla platensis (Schmitt, 1942) respectively, that received the same type of diet for equal experimental periods (KUCHARSKI & DA SILVA, 1991a; FERREIRA et al, 2005)
In view of the lower percentage of carbohydrates contained in this diet, it is possible that the amino acids gained from the diet are being used in the gluconeogenic pathway to maintain minimum glucose levels in the haemolymph, and low levels of glycogen in the different tissues studied, as seen here

Summary

Introduction

In the region of São Francisco de Paula, Southern Brazil, at an altitude of 900 meters a.s.l., a population of Parastacus brasiliensis (Von Martens, 1869) was found in the Pró-Mata Center for Research and Nature Conservation (CPCN). This is the first record in Brazil of a freshwater crayfish living at high altitude and low temperatures. This variability can occur because of multiple factors, such as habitat, stage in the molt cycle, sexual maturity (especially in females), feeding state, available food, and seasonality, resulting in different patterns of metabolic response (SCHIRF et al, 1987; KUCHARSKI & DA SILVA, 1991b; OLIVEIRA et al, 2007)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion