Activities of Energy Metabolism Enzymes in Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar L. Smolts and Parr Grown under Different Light Regimens.

Abstract

Activities of enzymes of energy and carbohydrate metabolism in muscles and the liver were studied in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. smolts and parr grown under continuous or natural lighting and different feeding regimens in autumn followed by a short photoperiod in winter. Enzyme activities were found to differ between test and control salmon groups and between parr and smolts sampled at the end of the winter period. Smolts grown under continuous lighting and round-the-clock feeding differed from other groups by having higher cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity and lower aldolase activity in muscles. Differences in aerobic metabolism in muscles between parr and smolts were found to be the same in all experimental groups, COX and aldolase activities being relatively higher in smolts. The pattern of changes in enzyme activities in the liver from parr to smolts differed between different experimental groups. Based on the results, the photoperiod was assumed to affect the activities of energy metabolism enzymes in salmon juveniles and may eventually affect the completion of smoltification.