TRYPSIN AND CHYMOTRYPSIN ACTIVITIES AS NUTRITIONAL INDICATORS OF QUALITY IN FISH LARVAE.

摘要

Early detection of growth potential or nutritional status of fish larvae is desired in order to assess quality of spawns and to predict results of rearing operations. Since the rate of digestion in the intestinal system limits the uptake of nutrientsand then the growth of the whole organism, activity of some digestive enzymes, like trypsin or chymotrypsin have been proposed as indicators. The aim of the present work was to evaluate suitability of both proteases as biochemical indicators of nutritional condition in sea bass larvae by inducting a restriction in food. Additionally, possible variations in the response of the enzymes related to the original quality of the spawn were also considered.