LIPID AND FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF STRIPED BASS (MORONE-SAXATILIS) LARVAE DURING DEVELOPMENT

Changes in lipid class, fatty acid composition, protein, and dry and w et weights of fertilized eggs and developing larvae of striped bass (M orone saxatilis) fed with the live food, Artemia, were investigated, A decrease of wet and dry weights and moisture was observed at the begi nning of the larval stage, Larvae regained the original moisture level , and wet and dry weights increased steadily after feeding, Total lipi ds decreased from 190 mu g/egg in fertilized eggs to 151 mu g/egg duri ng hatching and increased after feeding, When total lipid contents wer e expressed as a percentage of larval dry weight, a decline of lipid d id not occur until after feeding, Total protein, on the other hand, in creased right after feeding, but there was some variation between days , Polar lipids increased significantly from 20 mu g/egg at the egg sta ge to 199 mu g/larva at 26 days post-hatching (DPH), 2 days before the onset of metamorphosis, while neutral lipids declined from 175 mu g/e gg to 80 mu g/larva during the same time period, Wax/steryl esters dec reased from 150 mu g/egg in fertilized eggs to 32 mu g/larva at 26 DPH , Triacylglycerols dropped from 21 mu g/egg to 15 mu g/larva before fe eding and increased gradually after feeding, In contrast, the level of cholesterol increased 2-3-fold, There was a significant increase of p hospholipids, particularly phosphatidylcholine in larvae after feeding , The fatty acid composition of fish larvae was significantly influenc ed by the diet, Artemia, There was an indication of catabolism of endo genous eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids during metamorphosis .