AMINO-ACID-COMPOSITION OF WHOLE-BODY, EGG AND SELECTED TISSUES OF WHITE STURGEON (ACIPENSER-TRANSMONTANUS)

The amino acid composition of whole bodies, muscle, gill, gastrointest inal tract, liver, eggs, vitellogenin and lipovitellin of hatchery-rai sed white sturgeon was determined. The essential amino acid ratios (A/ E ratios) of the whole body, muscle and eggs were calculated and found to be significantly (P<0.05) different, but the whole body amino acid composition of sturgeon of four different sizes (19.5+/-0.4, 57.8+/-0 .9, 179.5+/-0.3 and 535.4+/-9.7 g; mean+/-s.e., n = 3) was found to be very similar. Muscle contained significantly higher concentrations of histidine and lysine, and liver had the highest levels of cystine and the branched-chain amino acids. Gills contained the lowest isoleucine , leucine and valine but were significantly higher in glycine and prol ine. Differences were also observed between the amino acid composition of sturgeon eggs, vitellogenin and lipovitellin. The A/E ratios will provide a valuable index for formulating amino acid test diets and for screening potential protein sources for white sturgeon.