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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sunflower and Plant Biology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #165768
Title: DIFFERENCES IN THE FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF LARVAE AND METAMORPHOSING SEA LAMPREYS, PETROMYZON MARINUS

Author
item KAO, YUNG-HSI - NATL CTRL UNIV, TAIWAN
item YOUSON, JOHN - UNIV OF TORONTO, CANADA
item Vick, Brady
item SHERIDAN, MARK - NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/8/2001
Publication Date: 1/1/2002
Citation: Kao, Y.-H., Youson, J.H., Vick, B.A., Sheridan, M.A. 2002. Differences in the fatty acid composition of larvae and metamorphosing sea lampreys, Petromyzon marinus. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B 131:153-169.

Interpretive Summary: This study was done by a Ph.D. graduate student at North Dakota State University, who sought the expertise of ARS Research Chemist, Brady Vick, and the instrumentation available in his laboratory for analysis of fatty acid composition of organs of the sea lamprey. The study demonstrated that alterations in fatty acid composition of sea lamprey tissues accompany its metamorphosis. These changes in fatty acid compositions would contribute to energy and membrane uses at a time when there are changes in, or the disappearce of, various larval structures and development of new tissues and organs during metamorphosis of sea lamprey.

Technical Abstract: This study was designed to evaluate biochemical changes in the fatty acid (FA) compositions of selected lipid depot (kidney and liver) and absorption (intestine) organs in larvae and metamorphosing sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus. The results indicated that changes in the fatty acid composition of the selected lipid classes from the kidney, liver and intestine of sea lamprey accompany metamorphosis. Alterations in fatty acid compositions of plasma, whole body and of selected tissues (liver, gonad, muscle) during various periods of the life cycles of several lamprey species, including pre-metamorphic (larvae), post-metamorphic (downstream migrants), pre-breeding (upstream migrants) and breeding period (adult), have been reported previously. This study is the first report of alterations in specific fatty acid compositions during lamprey metamorphosis. This alteration may result from any combination of the following factors: (1) life history pattern (benthic vs. pelagic, freshwater vs. seawater, thermal adaptation, etc.); (2) development (tissue reorganization); (3) the nature of lipid class; (4) nutritional status (feeding vs. fasting); and (5) environmental cues (e.g. temperature, salinity).