14种微藻总脂含量和脂肪酸组成研究

比较分析了14种微藻的总脂含量和脂肪酸组成,结果表明：除小球藻、亚心形扁藻、极微小环藻、微绿球藻外,其他微藻的总脂含量均超过其干重的10％。每一纲的微藻脂肪酸组成都有各自特点,绿藻纲中16：0、16：1(n-7)、18：1(n-9)含量较高,但微绿球藻中16：1(n-7)、20：5(n-3)(EPA)含量远高于其他绿藻;金藻纲中含大量14：0、16：0、18：3(n-3)、22：6(n-3)(DHA);硅藻纲中14：0、16：0、16：1(n-7)、EPA含量较高;黄藻纲的异胶藻富含16：0、16：1(n-7)和EPA。     

温、光、盐对硅藻STR01生长、总脂、脂肪酸的影响

为了优化新分离STR01的生态培养条件, 采用单因子试验和正交试验研究了不同温度、光照强度、盐度和温、光、盐三因素三水平对该藻的生长、总脂和脂肪酸组成影响。结果表明: 温、光、盐对STR01的生长、总脂和脂肪酸组成影响显著(P<0.05)。生长的适宜温度为15—35℃, 最适25—30℃(K值达0.679—0.682), 总脂含量积累的最适温度是25℃(总脂可达17.23%), 温度20℃时有利于该藻PUFA的积累, 可达34.23%。STR01生长的适宜光照强度为40—120 μmol/(m2·s), 最适光强为60 μmol/(m2·s), 光照强度40 μmol/(m2·s)有利于该藻的PUFA积累, 可达34.29%。STR01生长的适宜盐度为10—35, 最适盐度25, 盐度25时PUFA含量较高(43.42%)。正交试验结果表明温度对STR01的平均相对生长速率和总脂含量影响显著, 生长的最优组合: 温度30℃、光照强度60 μmol/(m2·s)、盐度25, 该组合下的生长速率达0.756; 总脂含量积累的最优组合: 温度30℃、光照强度60 μmol/(m2·s)、盐度20, 该组合下的总脂含量为20.00%。PUFA的最优组合: 温度25℃、光照强度60 μmol/(m2·s)、盐度20, 该组合下PUFA的含量为35.37%。综上所述: 该藻生长迅速, 总脂含量较高, PUFA丰富, 是一种可开发利用的耐高温浮游硅藻。     

光照强度对四株海洋绿藻总脂含量和脂肪酸组成的影响

采用f/2培养基,在3000lx,5000lx,8000lx光照强度时对杆状裂丝藻(Stichococcus bacillaris,MACC(中国海洋大学微藻种质库)/C19)和3株小球藻(Chlorellasp.MACC/C95,MACC/C97和MACC/C102)等4株海洋绿藻的总脂含量及脂肪酸组成进行了研究。单因子方差分析结果表明,光照强度对4株海洋绿藻的相对生长率、EPA(二十碳五烯酸,20∶5(n-3))含量及PUFA(多不饱和脂肪酸)总量,C19、C97和C102的脂肪含量和SFA(饱和脂肪酸)总量,C19、C95和C102的MUFA(单不饱和脂肪酸)总量均有显著影响(P0.05)。C19和C95的总脂含量随光照强度的增加总体呈降低趋势,C97和C102的总脂含量则随光照强度的升高而明显升高。C19的EPA含量随光照强度的增加呈现低-高-低趋势,C95在中低光照强度下EPA含量较高,C97和C102的EPA含量则随光照强度的增加而明显降低,4株绿藻的AA(花生四烯酸,20∶4(n-6))含量和PUFA总量均随光照强度的增加而降低。多重比较结果表明:C19在高光照强度(8000lx)时总脂含量显著低于其它各组,低光照强度(3000lx)和中光照强度(5000lx)处理间没有显著性差异(12.9%—12.7%),C97和C102则分别在高光照强度时总脂含量显著高于其它各处理(分别为40.6%和33.3%)。C19的EPA含量在中光照强度水平显著高于其它处理(12.7%),C97和C102的EPA含量分别在低光照强度水平显著高于其它处理(分别为12.0%和10.5%),C95的EPA含量在高光照强度水平显著低于其它处理,低光照强度和中光照强度处理间没有显著性差异(14.0%—14.7%);C19和C95的PUFA总量均在高光照强度水平显著低于其它处理,在低光照强度和中光照强度处理间没有显著性差异(分别为19.1%—19.4%和21.3%—21.3%),C97和C102的PUFA总量均在低光照强度水平显著高于其它处理(分别为19.2%和18.9%)。4株绿藻的主要脂肪酸成份为14∶0、16∶0、16∶1(n-7)、16∶4(n-3)、18∶1(n-9)、18∶3(n-3)、20∶4(n-6)和EPA。     

不同质量浓度NaNO3对3种微藻生长及总脂肪酸含量和组成的影响

以BG11为基本培养液,研究了不同质量浓度NaNO3(37.5～1 875.0 mg·L-1)对微藻P9(Klebsormidium sp. )、TH6(Oedocladium sp. )和CF5(Stigonema sp. )生长及总脂肪酸含量和组成的影响.结果显示,调整(减少或增加)培养液中NaNO3的质量浓度,对3种微藻的生长量及总脂肪酸含量和脂肪酸组成均有一定的影响;NaNO3的质量浓度较低(37.5或75.0 mg·L-1),3种微藻的鲜质量随培养时间的延长呈先逐渐增加然后略有降低的趋势;而在NaNO3质量浓度为150.0～1 875.0 mg·L-1的条件下,在一定的培养时间(18～33 d)内,3种微藻的鲜质量均逐渐增加;总体上看,3种微藻的生长量随NaNO3质量浓度的提高呈现逐渐增加的趋势,但仅在含1 875.0 mg·L-1 NaNO3的培养液中3种微藻的生长量高于对照(1 500.0 mg·L-1NaNO3).在含375.0 mg·L-1NaNO3的培养液中培养33 d,微藻 P9的总脂肪酸含量最高(25.39%),是对照的 1.79 倍,软脂酸、亚油酸、油酸和硬脂酸的相对含量分别是对照的2.50、2.72、2.24和2.08倍;在含37.5 mg·L-1 NaNO3的培养液中培养33 d,微藻TH6的总脂肪酸含量最高(20.69%),是对照的 1.89倍,软脂酸、亚油酸和油酸的相对含量分别是对照的3.37、1.79和1.92倍;不同处理组间微藻CF5的总脂肪酸含量及组成有一定差异,但随着NaNO3质量浓度的提高变化趋势不明显.研究结果表明,适当提高培养液中的NaNO3浓度对微藻的生长有一定的促进作用,不同种类微藻适宜的NaNO3浓度有一定的差异.综合考虑生长量和总脂肪酸含量及脂肪酸组成等因素,确定适宜于微藻P9、TH6和CF5培养的NaNO3质量浓度分别为375.0、37.5和150.0 mg·L-1.     

不同氮源对布朗葡萄藻生长、总脂和总烃含量的影响

以能源微藻布朗葡萄藻Botryococcus braunii 764和Botryococcus braunii 765为实验材料,采用实验室一次性培养的方法,研究了不同氮源及浓度对其生长、总脂和总烃含量的影响.结果表明,B. braunii 764和B. braunii 765的最适氮源均为硝态氮,且均能够利用硝态氮、亚硝态氮、铵态氮和尿素进行生长,但是不同氮源及其浓度对这两株藻的生长、总脂和总烃含量的影响不同.B. braunii 764生长速度较B. braunii 765缓慢,但是B. braunii 764的总脂和总烃含量均高于B. braunii 765,最高分别达27.61%和34.21%.以硝态氮为氮源时,B. braunii 764的细胞OD值、生物量、总脂和总烃含量分别为1.38、1.81 g/L、27.61%和34.21%,均显著高于其它试验组,而以尿素为氮源时,B. braunii 765的最大OD值为1.87,以硝态氮为氮源时,其生物量(2.15 g/L)和总烃含量(27.89%)最高,而铵态氮对二者生长的促进作用以及总脂和总烃含量的影响不明显.综合考虑,硝态氮是两株葡萄藻较为理想的氮源,而B. braunii 764可以作为一种较有潜力的能源微藻进行开发利用.     

投喂卤虫对方斑东风螺稚螺生长及存活的影响

在温度(29±1)℃、盐度28.5±0.5条件下,研究了卤虫、蟹类、虾类、贝类4种饵料单独及混合投喂20d后对方斑东风螺稚螺(壳高1.5～2.0 mm)生长及存活的影响。结果表明:单独投喂卤虫组(62.65%)存活率显著高于其它各组(p0.05),卤虫+贝类组(40.09%)存活率高于单独投喂贝类组(34.36%),但无显著性差异(p0.05)。单独投喂卤虫组壳高、壳宽最低,单独投喂贝类组壳宽、壳高特定生长率最高(6.02%/d,6.67%/d),但与卤虫+贝类组差异不显著。卤虫组壳高、壳宽变异系数低于其它各组,其中壳高变异系数显著低于其它各组,壳宽变异系数与其它各组无显著性差异(p0.05)。试验结果说明投喂卤虫有利于提高方斑东风螺稚螺存活率及个体大小整齐度。     

温、光、盐对三角褐指藻紫外诱变株生长、总脂及脂肪酸的影响

为了优化微藻培养条件,采用单因子试验研究了不同温度(10、15、20、25、30℃)、不同光照强度(20、40、60、80、100、120μmol·m-2·s-1)和不同盐度(5、10、15、20、25、30、35、40)对三角褐指藻紫外诱变株MP-2的影响。结果表明:温、光、盐对MP-2的生长、总脂含量和脂肪酸组成影响显著(P0.05)。MP-2生长和总脂积累的适宜温度为10~25℃,最适20℃;低温有利于EPA和PUFA的积累,15℃时EPA(30.94%)和PUFA(39.53%)较高;MP-2生长的适宜光照强度为20~120μmol·m-2·s-1,最适光强为40μmol·m-2·s-1,低光强有利总脂的积累,光照强度为20~40μmol·m-2·s-1时总脂含量(25.81%~25.26%)较高;光强对PUFA和EPA的积累影响显著(P0.05),光照强度100μmol·m-2·s-1时EPA高达29.15%,光照强度80~100μmol·m-2·s-1时PUFA高达40.22%~40.56%;MP-2生长的适宜盐度为10~40,最适盐度25,高盐有利总脂的积累,盐度30~35时总脂含量高达36.54%~36.66%,低盐有利EPA和PUFA积累,盐度为10~15时EPA高达31.31%~31.46%,盐度15时PUFA最高(44.75%)。     

卤虫染色体倍性组成的研究

本文报道了我国4个地理品系卤虫的染色体倍性组成及卵径分布,分析了卤虫染色体的非整倍性,讨论了卤虫种的分布。 天津卤虫有2倍体(2n=42),占33.3％和5倍体,占16.2％;染色体数的波动为21—108;卵径为262±17μm。 海南卤虫有2倍体(2n=42),占8％;4倍体,占17.7％;5倍体,占18.3％;染色体数的波动为16—111;卵径为285±15μm。 新疆卤虫有2倍体(2n=42),占39.2％;染色体数的波动为17—106;卵径为269±15μm。 山西卤虫有2倍体(2n=42),占45.1％,染色体数的波动为17—84;卵径为234±13μm。     

南极大磷虾粉对卤虫脂肪酸和氨基酸的营养强化作用

以卤虫(Artemia sp.)Ⅱ龄无节幼体作为试验材料,研究0、75、150、225 mg·L-1的南极大磷虾(Euphausia superba)粉对卤虫体内脂肪酸和氨基酸的强化效果,试验共进行18 h,每6h取样检测一次.结果表明:强化组各时段的二十二碳六烯酸、ω3-系列多不饱和脂肪酸总量以及多不饱和脂肪酸总量均显著高于对照组;除了75和225 mg·L-1组6h的二十碳五烯酸与对照组无显著差异外,其他各时段的二十碳五烯酸亦显著高于对照组;75mg·L-1组18h以及150 mg·L-1组12和18h的二十碳四烯酸亦显著升高;150 mg·L-1组的必需氨基酸总量和总氨基酸含量均显著高于对照组,此外,150 mg·L-1组各时间段的必需氨基酸总量/氨基酸总量比值显著高于其他两个强化组和对照组,225 mg·L-1组12 h的必需氨基酸总量/氨基酸总量比值显著高于对照组;南极大磷虾粉对卤虫的脂肪酸和氨基酸均具有较好的营养强化效果,并以150 mg·L-1的强化浓度,12和18 h的强化时间为宜.     

饵料对鹄沼枝额虫生长和生殖力的影响

鹄沼枝额虫是一种淡水小型甲壳动物,主要以细菌、有机碎屑和单胞藻等为食.用豆腐、虾片、米糠、大豆、面粉、小球藻6种饵料培养鹄沼枝额虫幼体,经11d培育,结果显示,不同饵料对鹄沼枝额虫生长、成活率有显著影响.方差分析表明,虾片组的鹄沼枝额虫体长增长显著优于其他5种饵料组(P<0.05);小球藻组的鹄沼枝额虫成活率显著高于米糠、豆腐和面粉组(P<0.05),但与虾片和大豆组没有显著性差异(P>0.05).虾片培养的鹄沼枝额虫较其他5种饵料提早1-2d产卵,且初次产卵量和卵径均为最大.用虾片、大豆、米糠、虾片+米糠、大豆+米糠5种饵料投喂性腺刚开始发育的鹄沼枝额虫,经27d培育,结果表明,不同饵料组间的鹄沼枝额虫生殖力差异显著.虾片+米糠培育的鹄沼枝额虫生殖总量显著高于米糠和大豆(P<0.05),而与虾片和大豆+米糠组没有显著性差异(P>0.05).因此,虾片和虾片+米糠是培养鹄沼枝额虫的优质饵料,对其生长和种群增殖有明显的促进作用.     

Effect of exogenous fatty acids on growth,membrane fluidity,and phospholipid fatty acid composition in yeast

The growth response of a double-mutant fatty acid auxotroph of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to exogenous saturated fatty acids of a homologous series from 12:0 to 16:0, each supplied with oleate, linoleate, linolenate, or cis-Δ¹¹- eicosenoate, cannot be explained in terms of the efficiency of incorporation of the fatty acids into phospholipids or alteration of membrane fluidity. There is, however, a negative correlation between growth and levels of 12:0 plus 13:0 in phospholipids, as well as a positive correlation between growth and levels of 14:0, 1 5:0, and 1 6:0. We, therefore, conclude that the predominant factor in these phospholipid fatty acyl chain modifications is maintenance of an optimal concentration of C14:0 through C16:0 in phospholipids of this organism.     

Effects of intraperitoneally administered ubiquinone on the level of total lipid and fatty acids in rat liver

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of ubiquinone (coenzyme Q-10) on total lipid and fatty acid composition of liver tissues in rats. Twenty male wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups. The first group was used as a control. The second group received ubiquinone (8 mg/every other day) intraperitoneally. This administration was done for a period of 38 days. Body weight increases in animals fed diets for 38 days were on average 35 g in control group (C), and only 11 g in the ubiquinone group. Total lipid content of liver tissues in the ubiquinone group (UB) decreased significantly (p < 0.0001) compared to the control group (C). The ratio of 22:6 and total omega3 fatty acid in the UB increased (p < 0.01) compared to C. While the level of oleic acid (18:1), palmitoleic acid (16:1) and total monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) in UB significantly decreased (p < 0.01, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively), the level of stearic acid (18:0) in liver tissue increased (p < 0.05) in the same group when compared to C. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) is the rate-limiting enzyme catalyzing the synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acid mainly oleate (18:1). We speculate that ubiquinone inhibits SCD activity. SCD is an important metabolic control point in body weight regulation. Our results indicate that ubiquinone supplementation may have an inhibitory effect on obesity and it seems that the level of 22:6 in liver increased due to ubiquinone.     

Nonesterified fatty acids and lipid peroxidation

Oxygen free radicals damage cells through peroxidation of membrane lipids. Gastrointestinal mucosal membranes were found to be resistant to in vitro lipid peroxidation as judged by malonaldehyde and conjugated diene production and arachidonic acid depletion. The factor responsible for this in this membrane was isolated and chemically characterised as the nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), specifically monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid. Authentic fatty acids when tested in vitro using liver microsomes showed similar inhibition. The possible mechanism by which NEFA inhibit peroxidation is through iron chelation and iron-fatty acid complex is incapable of inducing peroxidation. Free radicals generated independent of iron was found to induce peroxidaton of mucosal membranes. Gastrointestinal mucosal membranes were found to contain unusually large amount of NEFA. Circulating albumin is known to contain NEFA which was found to inhibit iron induced peroxidation whereas fatty acid free albumin did not have any effect. Addition of individual fatty acids to this albumin restored its inhibitory capacity among which monounsaturated fatty acids were more effective. These studies have shown that iron induced lipid peroxidation damage is prevented by the presence of nonesterified fatty acids.     

5株新分离海洋硅藻总脂和脂肪酸组成的比较研究

从浙江渔山列岛、朱家尖海域拖网采集浮游植物,采用平板分离法和水滴分离法分离、纯化出5株硅藻,用MAV培养基进行培养,采用Bligh—Dyer法和气相色谱-质谱法,对5株海洋硅藻的总脂及脂肪酸组成进行了分析比较。结果表明：在水温17—25℃,盐度25,自然光照,不充气培养条件下,5株海洋硅藻的总脂含量为15．14％-28．07％,除成对海链藻（Thalassiosirabinata）外,大龙骨藻（Tropidoneismaxima）、咖啡双眉藻（Amphoracoffeaeformis）、曼氏骨奈藻SM-2012—1（Skeletonemamunzelii）、曼氏骨条藻SM-2012-2（Skeletonemamunzelii）的总脂含量均超过其干重的20％。除咖啡双眉藻的20：4n_6含量高于20：5n4外,其它4株硅藻的20：5n．3在脂肪酸组成中含量较高,达22．04％-27．74％;5株硅藻中C18系列脂肪酸含量较低,为0．13％-7．6％;咖啡双眉藻除外的其它4株硅藻均舍有一定量的22：6n-3（2．40％-3．45％）。最终选出大龙骨藻（Tropidoneis maxima）、曼氏骨条藻SM-2012-1（Skeletonemamunzelii）、曼氏骨条藻SM-2012-2（Skeletonemamunzelii）具有开发的潜能。     

Differences in growth,total lipid content and fatty acid composition among 60 clones of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cylindrotheca fusiformis</Emphasis>

Differences between clones of the diatom Cylindrotheca fusiformi were studied with respect to growth rate, total lipid content and fatty acid composition. Sixty clones were isolated and cultivated under batch conditions. All clones were grown under identical conditions (temperature 22±1°C, light intensity 100 μmol photon m⁻² s⁻¹, salinity 28, F/2 medium) and were harvested in the late exponential growth phase for lipid and fatty acid analysis. The results show a wide variation in growth, total lipid content and fatty acid profiles among clones (p<0.05). The major fatty acids in the 60 clones were 14:0 (4.6–9.1%), 16:0 (18.2–32.0%), 16:1n-7 (21.6–33.1%), 20:4n-6 (4.1–13.5%) and 20:5n-3 (6.2–17.2%), with the highest proportion of 20:4n-6 in clone CF13 (13.5%), and the highest proportion of 20:5n-3 in clone CF5 (17.2%). The results support the view that some microalgal fatty acid variation is not restricted to interspecific variation and external factors, but also varies from clone to clone within the same species.     

Effect of temperature on the growth,total lipid content and fatty acid composition of recently isolated tropical microalgae Isochrysis sp., Nitzschia closterium,Nitzschia paleacea,and commercial species Isochrysis sp. (clone T.ISO)

The effect of temperature from 10 °C to 35 °C on the growth, total lipid content, and fatty acid composition of three species of tropical marine microalgae, Isochrysis sp., Nitzschia closterium, N. paleacea (formerly frustulum), and the Tahitian Isochrysis sp. (T.ISO), was investigated.Cultures of N. closterium, Isochrysis sp. and T.ISO grew very slowly at 35 °C, while N. closterium did not grow at temperatures higher than 30 °C or lower than 20 °C. N. paleacea was low-temperature tolerant, with cells growing slowly at 10 °C. N. paleacea produced the highest percentage of lipids at 10 °C, while the other species produced maximum amounts of lipid at 20 °C. None of the species maintained high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) at high growth temperature and there was a significant inverse relationship between the percentage of PUFAs and temperature for N. paleacea. A curved relationship was found between temperature and percentage of PUFA for N. closterium and tropical Isochrysis sp., with the maximum production of PUFA at 25 °C and 20 °C, respectively. The two Nitzschia species produced higher levels of the essential fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid [20:5(n-3)] at lower growth temperatures, but the two Isochrysis species had little change in percentage of 20:5(n-3) with temperature. Only T.ISO had the highest percentage of 22:6(n-3) at lowest growth temperature (11.4% total fatty acids at 10 °C).School of Mathematical and Physical SciencesAuthor for correspondence     

Effects of dietary n-3 fatty acids on characteristics and lipid composition of ovine sperm

The fatty acid composition of sperm affects the fertilization rate. The objective was to investigate the effects of dietary fish oil (as a source of n-3 fatty acids) on semen quality and sperm fatty acid composition in sheep. Eight Zandi fat-tailed rams were randomly allocated into two groups and fed either a control diet or a diet supplemented with fish oil. Both diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous and were fed for 13 weeks, starting in the middle of the breeding season. Semen samples were collected weekly and their characteristics evaluated by standard methods, whereas samples collected at the start and end of the study were assessed (gas chromatography) for sperm lipid composition. Mean (±s.e.m.) sperm concentrations (4.3 × 109 ± 1.3 × 108 v. 3.9 × 109 ± 1.3 × 108 sperm/ml and percentages of motile (77.25 ± 3.34 v. 60.8 ± 3.34) and progressively motile sperm (74.13 ± 1.69 v. 62.69 ± 1.69) were significantly higher in the fish oil group than control. Dietary fish oil increased the proportion of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 n-3) in sperm fatty acid composition. We concluded that feeding fish oil as a source of n-3 fatty acids attenuated seasonal declines in semen quality in rams, perhaps through increased DHA in sperm.     

Effects of different fatty acids on BRL3A rat liver cell damage

To evaluate the effects of fatty acids on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, oxidative stress, and lipid damage. We treated BRL3A rat liver cells with, linoleic (LA), linolenic, oleic (OA), palmitic (PA), palmitoleic (POA), or stearic (SA) acid for 12 hr. The characteristics of cell lipid deposition, oxidative stress indexes, ER stress markers, nuclear factor κB p65 (NF-κB p65), lipid synthesis and transport regulators, and cholesterol metabolism regulators were analyzed. Endoplasmic chaperones like glucose-regulated protein 78, CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein, NF-κB p65, hydrogen peroxide, and malonaldehyde in PA- and SA-treated cells were significantly higher than in other treated cells. Deposition of fatty acids especially LA and POA were significantly increased than in other treated cells. De novo lipogenesis regulators sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, fatty acid synthase, and acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase 1 (ACC1) expression were significantly increased in all fatty acid stimulation groups, and PA- and SA-treated cells showed lower p-ACC1 expression and higher scd1 expression than other fatty acid groups. Very low-density lipoprotein synthesis and apolipoprotein B100 expression in free fatty acids treated cells were significantly lower than control. PA, SA, OA, and POA had shown significantly increased cholesterol synthesis than other treated cells. PA and SA showed the lower synthesis of cytochrome P7A1 and total bile acids than other fatty acids treated cells. Excess of saturated fatty acids led to severe ER and oxidative stress. Excess unsaturated fatty acids led to increased lipid deposition in cultured hepatocytes. A balanced fatty acid intake is needed to maintain lipid homeostasis.     

Effects of two Avtemia diets with different contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids on the lipid composition of larvae of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus

Atlantic herring larvae ( Clupea harengus ) were fed two enriched Artemia diets with different contents of (n-3) highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA), one containing low levels of 20: 5(n-3) and no 22: 6(n-3), the other containing substantial levels of both 20: 5(n-3) and 22: 6(n-3). After 30 days of culture, fatty acid compositions of lipid classes in the heads, bodies and eyes of the larvae were analysed. Fish fed Artemia with the low (n-3) HUFA diet lacking 22: 6(n-3) had lower amounts of total (n-3)HUFA and, in particular, of 22:6(n-3) in individual phospholipids and total neutral lipids of heads, bodies and eyes as compared to fish fed Artemia with high levels of (n-3)HUFA. The amount of 22: 6(n-3) in the fatty acids of phosphatidyl-ethanolamine of eyes was particularly susceptible to dietary depletion. The implications of these findings are discussed, particularly in relation to dietary requirements for 22: 6(n-3) during development of neural tissue in predatory fish iarvae.