CALORESPIROMETRY OF DEVELOPING EMBRYOS AND YOLK-SAC LARVAE OF TURBOT (SCOPHTHALMUS-MAXIMUS)

The rates of oxygen consumption and heat dissipation were simultaneous ly measured and related to contents of glucose, glycogen and lactate i n order to determine whether anaerobic processes contributed significa ntly to the energy metabolism of developing turbot embryos and larvae. The results suggest that metabolism is fully aerobic between Days 0 a nd 12 post fertilisation. The data further suggest that glycogen is th e sole metabolic fuel during the first 18 to 19 h post fertilisation. After the commencement of epiboly, carbohydrates play an insignificant role in the energy metabolism of the developing embryo and yolk-sac l arva.