Development of bile salt-dependent lipase in larval turbot

Pancreatic bile salt-dependent lipase (BSDL) was present with 0·5 μg BSDL larva⁻¹ from hatching in turbot larvae. The enzyme content increased during the yolk sac phase to 1·1 μg BSDL larva⁻¹. This suggests that larval turbot are able to digest lipids from the start of exogenous feeding. The BSDL synthesis was stimulated first by food about 5 days after the onset of first feeding. The content per larva increased exponentially in fed larvae to 20 μg BSDL larva⁻¹ on day 23 after hatching and decreased in starved larvae. In contrast, the specific content decreased during the first feeding phase, meaning that smaller larvae had a higher content of enzyme related to their biomass than did bigger larvae.