Effects of Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids (DHA/EPA) and Vitamin E on Fatty Acid Profile of Common Carp, Cyprinus carpio Ovaries

Abstract

The current study aimed to clarify the fatty acids profile in the breeding stock ovaries of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fed on two food additives. The study was carried out in the Shrimp Hatchery which belonging to the Basrah Agricultural Directorate. Three treatment groups were used, the first treatment (T1) represented as control without any food additives, the second treatment (T2) supplemented with 5 g/kg omega-3 fatty acids, and the third treatment (T3) to which vitamin E was added at a concentration of 200 mg/kg. Fishes were randomly distributed in three replicates for each treatment with six of common carp brood stock per replicate. Nine cages were used which placed in earthen pond. Feeding trail lasted from 29 Oct 2018 to 14 Mar 2019. After feeding fish for 82 days, the oil was extracted from gonads by two methods, the first one by Soxhlet apparatus and the second by Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) method. The fatty acid profiles were analyzed using gas chromatograph by GC/MS (Gas Chromatography Mass spectrometry). Results showed that the content of fatty acids in the ovaries of treated fishes in T1, the presence of saturated and unsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, were monounsaturated fatty acid (C19H36:1) scored the highest percentage (52.55%). Fishes in T2 recorded the presence of saturated and unsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids were omega-12 (C18H34:12) recorded the highest percentage (50.02%), while T3 fishes showed the presence of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids from the group of omega-6 fatty acids and the unsaturated fatty acid omega-9 (C18H34:9) record the highest percentage (63.24%).In conclusion this study suggested that the content of fatty acids in fish ovaries reflects the composition of fatty acids in the diet.