Dynamics of total body fatty acids during early ontogeny of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) larvae

The fatty acid composition of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) was determined according to their physiological status, during starvation (10 days) and feeding (28 days). In starved larvae, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids were utilized as metabolic substrates until day 9. At day 10, all fatty acid levels remained stable or, at least, increased in larval body. Among fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid 22:6 n-3 was used preferentially (20.3% from total fatty acids utilized) followed by palmitoleic acid 16:1 n-7 (13.9%) and then by oleic 18:1 n-9 (12.3%), linoleic 18:2 n-6 (10.1%), linolenic 18:3 n-3 (9.7%) and eicosapentaenoic 20:5 n-3 (9.1%) acids. On the other hand, arachidonic acid 20:4 n-6 was utilized very lowly (0.3%). In fed larvae, no utilization of body fatty acids was observed during the experiment. It seems that energy requirements (and others) of fed larvae were satisfied by feed.