Variation of Free Fatty Acid in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Plasma During Spring – Summer Seasons

Abstract

In this study, the authors evaluated the changes under the action of environmental factors, on the structure of free fatty acids in blood plasma of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), between spring-summer seasons. Maintenance and feeding conditions were the same for all specimens of rainbow trout studied. Were retained for this purpose, 20 individuals of rainbow trout with body weights between 200 and 250 grams, from which blood samples were collected. Structure determination of free fatty acids in blood plasma of rainbow trout, was performed using gas chromatography technique-mass spectrometry. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosapentaenoic (DHA) are the major fatty acids found in plasma of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The purpose of this study was to determine the extraction procedure, the method of derivatization, temperature separation program and identification of fatty acids in fish plasma. During summer, there was an increase in strenght for most unsaturated fatty acids.