Mechanisms of lipid metabolism and transport underlying superior performance of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup 1858) larvae fed diets containing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

The nutritional and physiological roles of dietary C18 PUFA in the absence of LC-PUFA have rarely been investigated in fish, particularly in larvae, as it is unfeasible to culture most marine species in such extreme dietary conditions. Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis), a marine species of high commercial aquaculture importance in southern Europe, has relatively low LC-PUFA requirements during the larval stage compared to other marine finfish, making it a good model species to investigate this subject. A holistic approach was implemented to determine the effects these FAs may have on fish performance and metabolism, by analyzing growth, development, intestinal maturation, lipid and FA composition, hepatic and intestinal lipid accumulation, and expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism, absorption and transport (qPCR).