Skip to main content
Log in

Free amino acids as energy substrate in developing eggs and larvae of the cod Gadus morhua

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The content of free amino acids (FAA) in the cod (Gadus morhua L.) egg is about 200 nmol at spawning, decreasing by about 100 nmol/egg during the egg stage and about 75 nmol/larva during the yolksac larval stage. Together, alanine, leucine, serine, isoleucine, lysine, and valine account for about 75% of the decrease. Ammonium accumulates gradually during the egg stage and is quickly excreted after hatching. The body protein content is maintained during the egg and yolksac larval stages. The measured oxygen uptake of the cod embryo during the egg and yolksac larval stages accounts for about 85% of the oxygen necessary to catabolize the FAA disappearing during this period. Ammonia excretion of the cod embryo, as taken from literature data, is similar to the expected ammonia production from catabolism of the FAA. Our data suggest that FAA are a major substrate for aerobic energy production in cod eggs and yolksac larvae. The implication of this finding for the production of a favourable first-feed for cod and other cultivated marine fish larvae, and for the selection of high quality eggs of marine fishes, is stressed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Boulekbache, H.: Energy metabolism in fish development. Am. Zool. 21, 377–389 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brett, J. R. and T. D. D. Groves: Physiological energetics. In: Fish physiology, Vol. 8, pp 279–352. Ed. by W. S. Hoar, D. J. Randall and J. R. Brett. New York: Academic Press 1979

    Google Scholar 

  • Bromley, P. J. and P. A. Sykes: Weaning diets for turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.), sole (Solea solea) (L.) and cod (Gadus morhua L.). In: Nutrition and feeding in fish, pp 191–211. Ed. by C. B. Cowey, A. M. Mackie and J. G. Bell. London: Academic Press 1985

    Google Scholar 

  • Cho, C. Y. and S. J. Kaushik: Effects of protein intake on metabolizable and net energy values of fish diets. In: Nutrition and feeding in fish, pp 95–117. Ed. by C. B. Cowey, A, M. Mackie and J. G. Bell. London: Academic Press 1985

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowey, C. B., A. M. Mackie and J. G. Bell (Eds): Nutrition and feeding infish, 489 pp. London: Academic Press 1985

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowey, C. B. and J. R. Sargent: Nutrition. In: Fish physiology, Vol. 8, pp 1–58. Ed. by W. S. Hoar, D. J. Randall and J. R. Brett. New York: Academic Press 1979

    Google Scholar 

  • Davenport, J., S. Lønning and E. Kjørsvik: Ammonia output by eggs and larvae of the lumpsucker, Cyclopterus lumpus, the cod, Gadus morhua, and the plaice, Pleuronectes platessa. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 63, 713–723 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellertsen, B., P. Solemdal, T. Strømme, S. Tilseth and T. Westgård: Some biological aspects of cod larvae (Gadus morhua L.). Fiskeridir. Skr. Ser. Havunders. 17, 29–47 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Forward, R. and H. J. Fyhn: Osmotic regulation of the krill, Meganyctiphanes norvegica. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 74A, 301–305 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fugelli, K.: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in fish erythrocytes. Experientia 26, 361 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fyhn, H. J.: Holeuryhalinity and its mechanisms in a cirriped crustacean, Balanus improvisus. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 53A, 19–30 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fyhn, H. J. and L. Hahnenkamp: Free amino acids as energy substrate in developing larvae of the Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus, p 68. Proc. 8th Conf. Eur. Soc. Comp. Physiol. Biochem. 1986

  • Fyhn, H. J., A. Mangor-Jensen and B. Serigstad: Free amino acids in developing eggs and larvae of the cod. Basic studies and effect of oil. In: Fish larval physiology and anatomy — basic research and effects of oil. Final report project 83-523, pp 167–201. Ed. by H. J. Fyhn. Bergen, Norway: University of Bergen Printing Office 1986

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilles, R.: Intracellular organic osmotic effectors. In: Mechanisms of osmoregulation in animals, pp 111–154. Ed. by R. Gilles. Chichester: Wiley, J. and Sons (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gjessing, E. T.: Free amino acids in hard herring roe. Variation during the ripening process. Fiskeridir. Skr. Ser. Teknol. Unders. 4, 1–8 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Grasdalen, H. and L. Jørgensen: P — NMR studies on developing eggs and larvae of plaice. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 81B, 291–294 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofer, R.: Effects of artificial diets on the digestive processes of fish larvae. In: Nutrition and feeding in fish, pp 213–216. Ed. by C. B. Cowey, A. M. Mackie and J. G. Bell. London: Academic Press 1985

    Google Scholar 

  • Holtfreter, J., T. R. Koszalka and L. L. Miller: Chromatographic studies of amino acids in the eggs and embryos of various species. Exp. Cell Res. 1, 453–459 (1950)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hølleland, T. and H. J. Fyhn: Osmotic properties of the eggs of the herring Clupea harengus L. Mar. Biol. 91, 377–383 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanazawa, A.: Essential fatty acid and lipid requirement of fish. In: Nutrition and feeding in fish, pp 281–298. Ed. by C. B. Cowey, A. M. Mackie and J. G. Bell. London: Academic Press 1985

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowry, O. H., N. J. Rosebrough, A. L. Farr and R. J. Randall: Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J. biol. Chem. 193, 265–275 (1951)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mangor-Jensen, A.: Water balance in developing eggs of the cod Gadus morhua L. Fish Physiol. Biochem. 3, 17–24 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mengi, T.: Veränderungen in der chemischen Zusammensetzung des reifenden Ovariums des Ostseedorsches. Kieler Meeresforsch. 21, 107–121 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, S. and W. H. Stein: Protometric ninhydrin method for use in chromotography of amino acids. J. biol. Chem. 175, 376–388 (1948)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pierce, S. K. (Ed.): Cell volume regulation. Exp. Zool. 215, 235–377 (1981)

  • Pierce, S. K.: Invertebrate cell volume control mechanisms: a coordinated use of intracellular amino acids and inorganic ions as osmotic solute. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 163, 405–419 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, W. J.: Protein determinations in embryos. In: Methods in developmental biology, pp 671–684. Ed. by F. H. Wilt and N. K. Wessels. New York: Academic Press 1967

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakaguchi, M. and A. Kawai: The change in the composition of free amino acids in carp muscle with the growth of the fish. Mem. Res. Inst. Food Sci., Kyoto Univ. 31, 19–21 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Serigstad, B.: Oxygen uptake measurements of developing fish eggs and larvae. Sarsia 72 (In press)

  • Solberg, T. and S. Tilseth: Growth, energy consumption and prey density requirements in first feeding larvae of cod (Gadus morhua L.). Flodevigen Rapportser. 1, 145–166 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  • Solberg, T. and S. Tilseth: Biotest exposure system and effect studies on the cod eggs and larvae. In: Fish larval physiology and anatomy — basic research and effects of oil. Final report project 83-524, pp 25–50. Ed. by H. J. Fyhn. Bergen, Norway: University of Bergen Printing Office 1986

    Google Scholar 

  • Solorzano, L.: Determination of ammonia in natural waters by the phenolhypochlorite method. Limnol. Oceanogr. 14, 799–801 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki, T. and M. Suyama: Free amino acids and phosphopeptides in the extracts of fish eggs. Bull. Jap. Soc. Sci. Fish. 49, 1747–1753 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tacon, A. G. T. and C. B. Cowey: Protein and amino acid requirements. In: Fish energetics. New perspectives, pp 155–183. Ed. by P. Tytler and P. Calow. London: Croom Helm 1985

    Google Scholar 

  • Terner, C.: Metabolism and energy conversion during early development. In: Fish physiology, Vol. 8, pp 261–278. Ed. by W. S. Hoar, D. J. Randall and J. R. Brett. New York: Academic Press 1979

    Google Scholar 

  • Tocher, D. R. and J. R. Sargent: Analysis of lipids and fatty acids in ripe roes of some northwest European marine fish. Lipids 19, 492–499 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vislie, T.: Hyper-osmotic cell volume regulation in vivo and in vitro in flounder (Platichthys flesus) heart ventricles. J. comp. Physiol. 140, 185–191 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vislie, T.: On the role of taurine in the hypo-osmotic cell volume regulation in eel (Anguilla anguilla). Mar. Biol. Lett. 3, 53–63 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Walton, M. J.: Aspects of amino acid metabolism in teleost fish. In: Nutrition and feeding in fish, pp 47–67. Ed. by C. B. Cowey, A. M. Mackie and J. G. Bell. London: Academic Press 1985

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by T. Fenchel, Copenhagen

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fyhn, H.J., Serigstad, B. Free amino acids as energy substrate in developing eggs and larvae of the cod Gadus morhua . Mar. Biol. 96, 335–341 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412514

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412514

Keywords

Navigation