EFFECT OF DIFFERENT DIETARY LEVELS OF DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID (DHA, 22-6-OMEGA-3) ON THE DHA COMPOSITION OF LIPID CLASSES IN SEA BASS LARVAE EYES

The effect of different dietary levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 2 2:6 omega-3) on the corresponding composition of lipid classes of the eyes of sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, larvae was studied using Artem ia nauplii enriched with different products: oil emulsions, liposomes, a dry microalga and baker's yeast. DHA was found to be a major consti tuent of phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine of visual tis sues. The different DHA dietary levels were markedly reflected in the fatty acid composition of the lipid classes of eyes, suggesting a dose -dependent relationship between DHA in the food and in visual tissue l ipids of sea bass larvae. The possible implications of this dietary ef fect are discussed.