Varying plant protein sources in the diet of sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax differently affect lipid metabolism and deposition

The liver activity of lipogenic enzymes, the lipid content in various tissues, and plasma lipid levels of major, were measured in sea bass (D. labrax) fed over 96 days either a, fish meal-based control diet or preparations where 70% of fish meal protein was replaced by wheat gluten singly or in combination with pea or soybean meals. Relative to the controls, sea bass fed the wheat gluten-based diet resulted in stimulated lipogenesis in liver and increased lipid deposition in muscle. The opposite occurred when a substantial amount of soybean meal was included in the diet. Mesenteric fat depots were apparently insensitive to major changes in dietary protein source in fish showing similar intakes of digestible protein, energy and lipid. These results confirm that varying plant protein source in the diet differently affects lipid metabolism and deposition in sea bass.