Composição centesimal e perfil de ácidos graxos do músculo, ovários e fígado de fêmeas selvagens da carapeba listrada Eugerres brasilianus (Cuvier, 1830)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the proximate composition and fatty acid profile in the muscle, liver, and ovarian tissues of wild-caught striped mojarra Eugerres brasilianus females to elucidate the importance of these components during sexual maturation. Females were captured in the Santa Cruz Canal, Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil, from August 2012 to April 2013, and divided into four groups according to their ovarian development. Crude protein and total lipid levels in the ovary increased with maturation, and a concomitant decrease in liver protein and lipid levels was observed. Major saturated fatty acids in the muscle, liver and ovary were 14:0 and 16:0, but as no accumulation was observed in the ovaries, these fatty acids were probably oxidized to produce energy during gonadal development. The levels of arachidonic (ARA, 20:4n-6), eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 20:5n-3), docosapentaenoic (DPA, 22:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic (DHA, 22:6n-3) acids increased in the ovary as sexual maturation proceeded. These four highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) accounted for approximately 96% of the total HUFA content of mature ovaries, suggesting a high dietary requirement for these fatty acids.