Seasonal Changes in the Contents of Eicosapentaenoic Acid-Containing Triglycerides in Hepatopancreas of Scallop

Abstract

Seasonal changes in the contents of eicosapentaenoic acid (20: 5a>3)-containing triglycerides from the hepatopancreas of the scallop Patinopecten yessoensis were investigated. The content of hepatopancreas lipids varied considerably and seasonally, ranging from 1.2 to 8.2% of the tissue wet weight. Of the total lipids, the contents of the triglyceride class ranged from 14.5 to 87.4%. They had especially high values (mean: 75.8%) between April and October. Over an 11-month sampling period, the most predominant fatty acid in triglycerides isolated from the hepatopancreas lipids was 20: 5 3 poly-unsaturated fatty acid in triglycerides from the tissues from March to September were higher (32.3%) than those at other times (22.0%). In particular, the content of 20: 5eo3-rich triglycerides (4.7 g; 30.8% 20: 5o>3 in triglycerides) in the hepatopancreas of the scallops harvested between April and October was greater than that obtained during other months (0.6 g; 23.8%). This indicated that scallop hepatopancreas could be used as a potential natural source of 20: 5&)3-rich triglycerides in the production of nutritional or pharmaceutical products. © 1991, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.