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Effects of dietary lipids on tissue fatty acids profile, growth and reproductive performance of female rice field eel (Monopterus albus)

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Abstract

The effects of different lipids on tissue fatty acid profile and reproductive performance in female rice field eel were investigated in this study. Virgin female eels were fed with six diets containing different lipids (diets FO, LO, SO, PO and PL with fish oil, linseed oil, soybean oil, peanut oil and pork lard, respectively; diet APO with arachidonic acid and peanut oil). The results showed that there were positive correlations between the contents of 18:2n-6, 18:3n-3, arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the tissues of eels and those of the corresponding fatty acids in their diets. The specific growth rate of eels fed with diet PO was the lowest and significantly lower than that of FO and SO. Gonad of eels fed with diets PO and PL showed hypogonadism. The long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) can be synthesized by eels, but the quantity was not enough to meet their reproduction requirement completely. The fatty acid desaturation, rather than elongation probably was one of the limiting factors. Addition of proper amount of ARA in diet was favorable to the increase of the hatching rate of fertilized eggs, while EPA and DHA in diet were beneficial to the increase of the survival rate of larva. Both n-3PUFA and a suitable n-6/n-3PUFA ratio were necessary for growth and reproduction of eels.

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Abbreviations

ARA:

Arachidonic acid, 20:4n-6

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

APO:

Contained arachidonic acid and peanut oil diet

BHT:

Butylated hydroxytoluene

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6n-3

DPH:

Days past hatching

EFA:

Essential fatty acid

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5n-3

FAME:

Fatty acid methyl esters

FO:

Contained fish oil diet

GSI:

Gonadosomatic index (%)

HSI:

Hepatosomatic index (%)

LC-PUFA:

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (carbon chain length ≥C20 with ≥3 double bonds)

LO:

Contained linseed oil diet

MUFA:

Monounsaturated fatty acids

PL:

Contained pork lard diet

PO:

Contained peanut oil diet

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

SAI:

Survival activity index

SGR:

Specific growth rate

SFA:

Saturated fatty acid

SO:

Contained soybean oil diet

VSI:

Viscerosomatic index (%)

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the national natural science foundation of China (Grant No.30860217); the natural science foundation of Jiangxi province, China (Grant No.2008GZN0025); the open fund of key laboratory for genetic breeding of aquatic animals and aquaculture biology the ministry of agriculture, China(Grant No.BM2007-10). The authors would like to thank Dr. Hanhua HU at the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences for providing the technical assistance for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, College of Aquatic Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, 999 Huchenghuan Road, 201306, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

    Qiu-Bai Zhou & Xing-Hong Yan

  2. College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, 330045, Nanchang, China

    Qiu-Bai Zhou, Hua-Dong Wu & Chang-Sheng Zhu

  3. Key Laboratory of Genetic Breeding of Aquatic Animals and Aquaculture Biology of the Ministry of Agriculture, 214081, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China

    Qiu-Bai Zhou

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  1. Qiu-Bai Zhou
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  2. Hua-Dong Wu
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Correspondence to Xing-Hong Yan.

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Zhou, QB., Wu, HD., Zhu, CS. et al. Effects of dietary lipids on tissue fatty acids profile, growth and reproductive performance of female rice field eel (Monopterus albus). Fish Physiol Biochem 37, 433–445 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-010-9444-1

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