Characteristics of Serum Lipoprotein Features Associated with Lipid Levels of Muscle and Liver from Five Species of Fish

Abstract

We examined the lipoprotein features in the serum from puffer, flounder, red sea bream, amberjack, and striped jack in connection with the lipid levels of muscle and liver. Serum lipoproteins consisted of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL was a major lipoprotein in the five species. Species specific differences were found in the levels of VLDL. Considerable amounts of VLDL as well as HDL were present in the serum of flounder and striped jack, while the level of VLDL was extremely low in the serum of puffer. Flounder possessed unique VLDL whose main lipid was cholesteryl ester (CE) but not triglyceride (TG). The VLDLs other than that of puffer possessed apolipoprotein (apo) B- and A-I-like proteins as common components. In addition, the apolipoprotein with molecular weight (Mr) 75K was present in the VLDLs from flounder, red sea bream, and amberjack. The apolipoprotein with Mr 75K might be associated with the CE level of VLDL, and this apolipoprotein was absent in the VLDL of striped jack. The HDLs other than that of red sea bream possessed both apo A-I- and A-II-like proteins, while red sea bream possessed only apo A-I-like protein in its HDL. A close relationship was found between lipoprotein and muscle and liver lipid levels. Striped jack, with the highest level of muscle lipid, possessed the highest TG level of VLDL of the five species. Puffer, with the highest level of liver lipid, possessed the lowest level of lipoproteins. Lipoproteins synthesized in the liver seemed to be associated with the storage sites of lipid in fish. © 1993, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.