title: Live prey enrichment, with particular emphasis on HUFAs, as limiting factor in false percula clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris, Pomacentridae) larval development and metamorphosis: molecular and biochemical implications.
abstract: In fast growing organisms, like fish larvae, fatty acids provided through live prey are essential to satisfy high energy demand and are required to promote growth. Therefore, in recent decades, a great amount of research has been directed towards the development of lipid enrichment in order to improve larval fish survival and growth. However, in fish, the biochemical and molecular processes related to highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) administration are still poorly understood. In the current study, the false percula clownfish, a short larval phase marine species, was used as an experimental model and the effects of a standard and a HUFAs-enriched diet were tested through a molecular, biochemical, ultrastructural and morphometric approach. Our results support the hypothesis that HUFA administration may improve larval development through the presence of better structured mitochondria, a higher synthesis of energy compounds and coenzymes with a central position in the metabolism, with respect to controls. This higher energy status was confirmed by better growth performance and a shorter larval phase in larvae fed with an enriched diet with respect to the control. This strategy of rapid growth and early energy storage may be considered positively adaptive and beneficial to the survival of this species.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze del Mare, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy. i.olivotto@univpm.it
authors.forename: Ike
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Olivotto
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Stefano
authors.forename: Silvestro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosetti
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cossignani
authors.forename: Armanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pugnaloni
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giantomassi
authors.forename: Oliana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Carnevali
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005399:Fishes / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D013963:Thyroid Hormones