Marked changes were observed in different chemical constituents of C. batrachus during starvation. The N and protein fractions showed a definite pattern of variations. The highest values of these were recorded on 10th day of starvation and thereafter values declined gradually. On the other hand, the acid soluble phosphorus exhibited a reverse trend, increasing gradually from the first to the 30th day of starvation. These changes have been attributed mainly to the energy and metabolic demands of the starving fish

Bano, Y.

Aquatic Commons

PART 
sc FIC TEC I CAL 
EFF F E E 
F CLARIAS BATRACHUS (LINNo) 
MISS. YAGANA BANO 
!Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Indio. 
Marked changes were observed in different chemical con-
stituents of Clarias batrachus during starvation. The nitrogen 
and protein fractions showed a definite pattern of variations. 
The highest values of these were recorded on lOth day of 
starvation and thereafter values declined gradually. On the 
other hand, the acid soluble phosphorus exhibited a reverse 
trend, increasing graduaUy from the first to the 30th day of 
starvation. These changes have been attributed mainly to the 
energy and metabolic demands of the starving fish. 
INTRODUCTION 
The chemical composition of fish is 
greatly inf1uenced by factors such as light, 
temperature, salinity, food, etc., and these 
factors vary almost throughout the yeaL 
Therefore, when the conditions become 
adverse and food is scarce, many of the 
fish species are subjected to natural period 
of starvation during a part of the year. 
Many fish species are able to survive 
without food at low temperature for several 
months and even years (Love, 1970). 
Liver and muscle are reported to be the 
98 
most affected organs during starvation, 
while brain, heart and gill do not show 
measurable changes (Love, 1958;~ Yanni, 
1962). 
Variations in the lipid and water 
contents have been reported in many fishes 
(Black and Schwartz, 1950; Brandes and 
Dietrich, 1953, 1956, 1958; Idler and 
Bitners, 1956; Anon, 1966; Coppini 1967). 
Greene (1919) observed changes in the 
protein and water content of Oncorhynchus 
tschuwytschu during its upstream migration. 
An interesting fat-water line has 
Fish. Techno!. 
Y agana 'Bano: cStarvation and fhocliemical cflanges in C, 6atracflus 
TABLE 
Variations in Nitrogen fractions of the muscle 
Total Nitrogen (Crude Pure protein Nitrogen 
Date Length Weight protein) g. % g. % 
Range 
24-5-74 22- 84- 3.025-
26 em. 148g. 3.300 
3-6-74 3.475-
3.750 
13-6-64 3.300-
3.450 
23-6-74 3.100-
3.475 
been noted for the skin tissue of many 
species of fishes during starvation (Taka-
hashi and Shiokava, 1953). Similarly the 
existence of protein-water line has been 
reported in several non-fatty fishes (Love, 
1970). Arevalo (l948) pointed out the 
changes in the lipid and protein content 
at the extremity of starvation of Trachurus 
trachurus. Robertson et al. (l967) made 
an analysis of insoluble protein nitrogen 
during the fasting of some fish species, 
while Wilkins (1967) observed changes in 
the phospholipid content of Clupea hare-
ngus. However, only few data exist on the 
effect of starvation in tropical freshwater 
fishes. In the present study, therefore, an 
attempt has been made to find out the 
effect of starvation on different chemical 
constituents of the muscle of Clarias bat-
rachus (Linn.), a common freshwater catfish. 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
Fish of a particular size range (22-26 
VoL 11. No. 2 1975 
Mean S. E. Range Mean S.rE. 
3.175 ±.059 2.859- 2.897 ±.052 
3.012 
3.587 ±.068 3.197- 3.316 ±.062 
3.362 
3.375 ±.031 2.500- 2.940 ±.277 
13.742 
3.244 ±.090 2.200- 3.016 ±.089 
3.132 
em.) were released in a large laboratory 
aquarium and starved for 30 days. Sampling 
was made after the interval of every ten 
days. The fish were skinned and muscle 
was removed and kept in separate glass 
covered petridishes. Care was taken to 
ensure that the muscle was free from bones. 
For the estimation of moisture, a weighed 
amount of muscle sample was dried to a 
constant weight at 1 00°C. The total fat 'was 
extracted, using petroleum ether ( 40-60°C. 
B. P) as solvent, in a soxhlet assembly 
for 12 hours. The modified micro Kjd-
dahl method, as described by Oser (1965) 
was adopted for the determination of total 
protein. For the extraction of total 
water soluble nitrogen the method of 
Velankar and Govindan (1957) was used. 
The non-protein nitrogen was estimated by 
the method of Koch and McMeekin (1924) 
whereas for the estimation of total 
phosphorus and its fractions, acid 
soluble and inorganic phosphorus, 
the method of Fiske and Subbarow 
99 
Y agana 'Bano: Starvation and 6iodlemica! cfranges in C. IJatracftus 
I 
of C. batrachus during starvation 
PN/ 
TN 
Non-protein Nitrogen 
g. % 
Total water soluble 
Nitrogen g. % 
Water soluble 
Nitrogen g. % 
Range Mean S. E. Range Mean S. E. Range Mean S. E. 
1.216 253.5- 278.25 ±8.037 775.0- 837.499 +26.942 521.500- 559.250 +21.763 
291.00 900.00 612.00 
0.924 246.00- 271.5 ± 8.979 891.666- 960.777 + 36.748 614.166- 695.112 + 40.482 
288.00 1016.666 742.166 
o.sn 266.5- 262.125 ±17.172 600.0- 685.416 +44.406 325.500- 423.291 +60.585 
288.00 800.00 588.50 
0.930 168.0- 227.625 ±27.934 583.333- 660.416 ±32.520 375.500- 432.791 ±23.092 
274.50 741.66 
(1925) as described by Oser (1965) was 
followed. 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
Marked changes were observed in the 
chemical composition of C.batrachus during 
starvation. The nitrogen and protein fra-
ctions showed different patterns ofvariation 
(Table I and II). Total nitrogen (crude 
protein) was found to be elevated (3.587 
g.) on the lOth day, but thereafter decre-
ased gradually upto 30th day of starvation. 
Similar trend was observed for the protein 
nitrogen content. The ratios of PN/TN 
were found to vary from 0.871 to 1.216 du-
ring the whole starvation period. However, 
the ratio was high (1.216) on the first day. 
The maximum value of non-protein nit-
rogen was recorded on· the first day 
(278.25mg.), thereafter it gradually declined 
upto 30th day of starvation. The trends of 
total water soluble nitrogen differed 
markedly from that of non-protein nitrogen. 
100 
473.166 
The highest value of total water soluble 
nitrogen was observed on the lOth day of 
starvation. Afterwards the value showed 
a reduction, whereas the water soluble 
nitrogen fraction registered a slight increase 
on the 30th day of starvation. 
The starvation also brought about 
changes in the concentration of various 
protein fractions. The highest value of 
crude protein, pure protein and albumin 
were recorded on the 1Oth day of fasting 
(22.42g., 20.72g., 4.34g., respectively). 
Between lOth and 30th day, the values 
excepting those of albumin declined gra-
dually (Table II). 
The effect of starvation on the blood 
constituenrs of C. batrachus has earlier been 
observed by siddiqui (l972), who reported 
that the levels of protein fractions (total 
protein, albumin, globulin, fibrinogen) and~ 
that of non-protein nitrogen registered an 
initial rise on the second day of fasting, 
Fish. Technol. 
~ 
z 
0 
N 
,.... 
\0 
--...! 
VI 
-0 ,_.. 
Date 
14-5-74 
3-6-74 
13-6-74 
23-6-74 
~ 
TABLE- II 
Variations in Protein fractions of the muscle of C. batrachus during starvation 
Length Weight 
22- 84-
26 em. 148 g. 
'- =--c 
Crude Protein 
g. % 
Range Mean S. E. 
18.906- 19.843 ±0.366 
20.625 
21.719- ~2.422 ±0.425 
23.437 
20.625- 21.094 ±0.193 
21.562 
19.375- 20.273 ±0.565 
21.719 
17.319- 18.105 ±0.327 3.259-
18.825 3.825 
19.981- 20.723 :±::0.4 3.838~ 
21.719 4.638 
15.625- 18.373 ±1.73 2.034-
23.387 2.711 
18.162- 18.848 ±0.558 2.347-
20.000 2.957 
1 g. % 
3.495 
4.344 
.2.645 
"'< ~ 
10 
I:) 
::s: 
(:> 
te 
Cl 
;s 
~ 
.... 
;:l 
0 
2.705 ±0.456 a 
""' ~
r') 
~ 
!::! 
"' 
Y agana 'Bano: Starvation and i'Jiocliemica1 cfwnges in C. IJatraclius 
TABLE 
Variations in the chemical constituents of the 
Date Length Weight Fat g. % Moisture g.% 
Total phosphorus 
mg.% 
Range Mean S. E. Range Mean S. E. Range Mean S. E. 
24-5-74 22- 84- 0.675- 0.861 ±0.074 77.29- 78.055 ±0.348 275.2- 288.4 -l-95.934 
26cm. l48g. 1.023 78.98 308.X 
3~6-74 0.724- 0.947 ±0.147 77.916- 77.276 ±0.164 292.8- 308.60 ± 6.131 
1.362 77.610 320.80 
13-6-74 0.372- 0.697 ±0.170 77.01- 78.151 ±0.336 286.4- 295.200 ± 3.487 
1.061 79.190 300.8 
23-6-74 0.350- 0.461 ± 0.050 78.235- 78.925 ±0.210 286.4- 292.800 ±2.355 
followed by a gradual fall during the later 
phase of starvation. These changes in the 
blood chemistry of fish were in agreement 
with the variations observed presently in 
the muscle tissue. Lovern (1939) has repor-
ted that eel during starvation lost 
considerable body weight, more as a result 
of the loss of protein than the lipid. 
The pattern of variations in the fat 
content of starving C. batrachus were similar 
to that of protein. The highest value of 
fat was noted on the lOth day of starvation 
but, thereafter, the values showed a gradual 
decrease till the lowest was obtained on 
the 30th day (Table HI). The precentage 
of moisture was found to be maximum at 
the end of starvation (78.92%) & minimum 
(77.27%) on the lOth day thus showing an 
inverse r~lationship with the fat (Table HI). 
The observed decline in fat level indicates 
that the fish during its starvation utilizes 
102 
this source of food for energy and this faU 
in the fat content is compensated by a 
parallel increase in the tissue moisture 
percentage. This is in agreement to the 
observations of Brandes and Dietrich (1953, 
1956, 1958). More or less similar type of 
conclusions have also been drawn by Love 
(1970). His findings reveal that during 
starvation the rise in the tissue water runs 
parallel to a fall in tissue protein and lipid 
levels. An inverse relationship between 
lipid and water has also been reported in 
Scomber scombrus (Anon, 1966). Black 
and Schwartz (1950) pointed out that 
during starvation the sum of lipid and 
water remains constant in Sardinella ocel!ata 
and Scomber scombrus, while in Oncorhyn-
chus nerka the water content, during spa-
wning migration, changes from 60 % to 
77%, but the sum of lipid plus wat~r 
remains 80% (Idler and Bitners, 1959). 
An increase in the moisture percentage, 
Fish. Techno!. 
Y agana 'Bano: Starvation and fiiocfiemica! clianges in C. lJatracfius 
-III 
muscle of C. batrachus during starvation. 
Inorganic phosphorus Acid Soluble Ash g.% 
g;. % Phosphorus mg. % 
Range Mean S. E. Range Mean 
127.5- 138.0 ±3.208 305.00 350.00 
145.5 402.0 
172.5- 178.875 ±3.793 336.0- 349.50 
187.5 372.0 
119.25- 133.312 ±6.801 354.0- 360.75 
149.25 372.0 
123.0- 122.625 ± 2.617 378.0- 402.75 
133.5 432.0 
with the decreased value of protein, was 
reported in 'oncorhynchus tschuwytscha 
during spawning migration (Greene, 1919). 
Further, low values of protein and lipid 
with higher percentage of moisture were 
found in Oncorhynchus gorbuscha where 
the higher percentages of moisture were 
found to maintain the body weight of 
the fish (Parker and Vanstone, 1960). 
Except for a slight . decrease in the ash 
content from 1.27 to L 10 mg. no definite 
pattern of variations could be observed in 
the ash content of starving C. batrachus 
(Table HI). A faH in the ash content has 
also been reported in other fish species 
during starvation (Tilik, 1932; Love, 1958, 
1968). 
Remarkable changes were also observed 
during starvation in the total phosphorus 
and its fractions, the acid soluble phos-
phorus and inorganic phosphorus(Table III). 
VOL 12 No. 2 1975 
S. E. Range Mean S. E. 
±40.718 1.028- 1.137 ±0.140 
1.208 
±24.949 1.252- 1.273 ±0.016 
1.320 
± 3.944 1.053- 1.181 ±0.049 
1.266 
± 11.513 1.03- 1.105 ±0.026 
1.12 
The total phosphorus and inorganic phos-
phorus showed the same pattern of vari-
ations as exhibited by protein, and fat 
contents. The highest values for these 
constituents were recorded on the 1Oth day 
of starvation(308.60mg. for total phosphorus 
and 178.875mg. for inorganic phosphorus). 
Thereafter, a gradual decline in their conce-
ntrations was noted. The acid soluble 
phosphorus, however, showed an opposite 
pattern of variation and consequently, the 
entire period of starvation was marked with 
an increase in the value of this fraction 
from 350 mg. to 402.75 mg. It is interesting 
to note that the total blood phosphorus in 
this species also showed a gradual decline 
after an initial rise on the second day of 
starvation (Siddiqui, ] 972). 
It is well known that during starvation 
the metabolic activity of the fish, like other 
animals, slows down considerably. The 
103 
y agana 'Bano: Starvation and liiocliemica! dianges in C. IJatraclius 
fish during this period of fasting utilizes 
its reserved food materials for their basal 
metabolism and this explains the fall in 
the concentration of most of the chemical 
constituents offish muscle during starvation. 
AcKNOWLEDGEMENT 
The author is greatly indebted to 
Prof. S. M. Alam, Head of the Depart-
ment of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim U niver-
sity, Aligarh, for providing necessary 
laboratory facilities. Thanks are also due 
to Dr. A. K. Jafri for going through the 
manuscript. 
REFERENCES 
Anon, 1966. Torry Res. Hand!. Preserv. 
Fish., 56: 225. 
Arevalo, A. L. 1948. L. Boln. lnst. esp. 
Oceanogr., 8:13. 
Black, M. M. and H. M. Schwartz. 1950. 
J. Sci. Fd. Agric., I : 182. 
Brandes, C. H. and R. Dietrich. 1953. Fette 
Seifen; 55: 533. 
Brandes, C. H. and R. Dietrich. 1956. 
Fette Seifen Anstr Mittel; 58:433. 
Brandes, C. H. and R. Dietrich. 1958. 
Veroff. lnst. Meeresforsch. Bremerh; 5: 
299. 
Coppini, R. 1967. Proc. Tech. Pap. gen. 
Fish. Coun. Mediterr. 8 technical paper, 
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Fiske, C. H. and Y. Subbarow. 1925. J. 
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Greene, C. W. 1919. J. Biol. Chem., 39:435. 
Idler, D. R. and I. Bitners. 1956. Can. J. 
Biochem. Physiol., 36: 793. 
104 
Idler, D. R. and I Bitners. 1959. J. Fish. 
Res. Bd Can; 16: 235. 
Koch, F. C. and T. L. McMeekin. 1924. 
J. Am. Chem. Soc., 46: 2066. 
Kordyl, E. 1951. Pr. morsk. lnst. ryh. Gdyni 
6; 145. 
Love, R. M. 1958. J. Sci. Fd. Agric., 1: 617. 
Love, R. M. 1970. The Chemical Biology 
of Fishes; Academic Press, London 
and New York. 
Love, R. M., I. Robertson, and I. Strachan. 
1968. J. Sci. Fd. Agric., 19: 415. 
Lovern, J. A. 1939. Sabn Trout Mag; 94: 56. 
Oser, B. L. 1965. 'Hawk's Physiological 
Chemistry' 14th ed. The Blakiston Div. 
Me Graw-Hill Book Co., New York, 
Toronto. 
Parker, R. R. and W. E. Vanstone. 1966. 
J. Fish. Res. Ed Can; 23: 1353. 
Robertson, I., R. M. Love, and W. P. 
Cowie. 1967. J. Sci. Fd. Agric; !8: 563. 
Siddiqui, N. 1972. 'Studies on the bioche-
mical constituents of the blood. of 
some freshwater fishes' Ph. D. thesis, 
Aligarh Muslim University. 
Takahashi, T. and A. Shiokava. A. 1953. 
Bull. lap. Soc. Scient. Fish., 18: 333. 
Tilik, z. E. 1932. lzv. Vses. lnst. Ozern. 
Rechn. Ryb. 14: 133. 
Velankar, N. K. and T. K. Govindan. 1957. 
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Wilkins, N. P. 1967. Comp. Biochem. 
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Yanni, M. 1962. Z. Vergl. Physiol., 45: 390. 
Fish. Technol. 


Effect of starvation on the biochemical composition of Clarias batrachus (Linn.)

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Effect of starvation on the biochemical composition of Clarias batrachus (Linn.)

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