Stimulants of Feeding Behavior in Fish: Analyses of Tissues of Diverse Marine Organisms

Abstract

Analyses of the free amino acids, quaternary amines, guanido compounds, nucleotides, nucleosides, and organic acids in extracts of tissues from 10 species of marine teleost fishes and 20 species of invertebrates are reported. With multidimensional scaling techniques, the relative concentrations of the above chemicals in fishes, molluscs, and crustaceans are shown to cluster into separate taxon-specific groups. The greatest differences are between the fishes and the two groups of invertebrates. Similarities are more evident between the molluscs and crustaceans where eight of the nine most abundant substances are identical: i.e., betaine, taurine, trimethylamine oxide, glycine, alanine, proline, homarine, and arginine. The major tissue components in the fishes and invertebrates are correlated with compounds previously shown to stimulate feeding behavior in 35 species of fish. Glycine and alanine are major tissue components and are also the two most frequently cited feeding stimulants in the 35 species. Molluscs and crustaceans each contain high concentrations of five of the most frequently cited stimulants (glycine, alanine, proline, arginine, and betaine); these substances all occur in much lower concentrations in fish. Some minor tissue components, such as tryptophan, phenylalanine, aspartic acid, valine, and uridine 5`-monophosphate, are, however, important feeding stimulants for some fish species. Stimulants for herbivores and carnivores are often different. Several major feeding stimulants are substances that serve as "compensatory solutes," stabilizing enzymes and structural proteins.

Cost-benefit analysis potential in feeding behavior of a predatory snail by integration of hunger, taste, and pain

“…Betaine is a common feeding stimulant for marine carnivores (6) and was nearly 10-fold more potent than glycine and cysteine. Betaine is an osmolyte found in high concentrations (tens of millimolar) in most marine invertebrates and stimulates feeding in many marine carnivores (7)(8)(9). Comparison of betaine as a feeding stimulant with a homogenate of squid, formerly used routinely as a feeding stimulant for Pleurobranchaea (1), showed no significant difference in feeding thresholds for dilutions of standard squid homogenate and molar concentrations of betaine (P Ͼ 0.3 for six animals; Wilcoxon signed rank test).…”

Measurement of marine osmolytes in mammalian serum by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

“…There is considerable variation in the osmolytes used across taxa [1]. Osmolytes, which include compounds such as methylamines, amino acids, sugars, and polyols, are used to protect against freezing damage, dehydration, high salinity, and pressure [2][3][4].…”

Weaning of Burbot, Lota lota (L.) from Live to Dry Feed Using NaCl as Dietary Attractant

“…Generally, fish larvae can detect feed via a wide range of chemical, visual and mechanical stimuli (Carr, Netherton, Gleeson, & Derby, 1996;Kasumyan & Døing, 2003). In most fish, the basic sensory organs develop rapidly in the course of the first few days after hatching that prey can be detected at first feeding (Carr, Netherton, Gleeson, & Derby, 1996;Kasumyan & Døing, 2003).…”

“…In most fish, the basic sensory organs develop rapidly in the course of the first few days after hatching that prey can be detected at first feeding (Carr, Netherton, Gleeson, & Derby, 1996;Kasumyan & Døing, 2003). The timing and sequence of further development of sensory tissues and organs is species specific and depends on the feeding behaviour (Kasumyan & Nikolaeva, 2002;Kasumyan & Døing, 2003).…”