Sex difference in fatty acid composition of six marine teleosts

This study investigated the sex difference in fatty acid (FA) composition of six wild marine fish species, namely, Cleisthenes herzensteini, Platichthys bicoloratus, Pseudosciaena polyactics, Platycephalus indicus, Alosa sapidissima and Scomberomorus niphonius. The coefficient of distance value between sexes (D-sex) and multi-variate similarity of percentages analysis (SIMPER) revealed universal existence of sex difference in FA composition, particularly in gonad, intestine and liver. Nonetheless, this sex difference was highly dependent on fish species. In general, DHA, 18:1n-9, 16:1n-7, 16:0 and EPA appeared to be the TOP FAs differentially abundant between sexes.

Automated summary

This study investigated the sex difference in fatty acid composition of six wild marine fish species, revealing universal existence of sex difference in FA composition, particularly in gonad, intestine and liver. The sex difference was highly dependent on fish species, with DHA, 18:1n-9, 16:1n-7, 16:0 and EPA appearing to be the top FAs differentially abundant between sexes.