Effect of feeding and lack of food on the growth, gross biochemical and fatty acid composition of juvenile catfish

Abstract

The effect of feeding and starvation on growth, gross body composition and fatty acid composition of body muscle and liver were investigated in juvenile African catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ). The relative composition of fatty acids was influenced by starvation. In both liver and muscle there were marked relative decreases of 14: 0, 16: 1n9 and 18: 1n9 fatty acids and relative increases of 20: 5n3 and 22: 6n3 when these were compared to the controls. Preference of utilization of fatty acids from liver and body muscle during starvation was highest for 14: 0>16: 1n9>18: 1n9 and conservation highest for 22: 6n3>20: 5n3. The changes of these fatty acids were smaller in muscle than in the liver.