SOME EFFECTS OF STARVATION ON THE LIPID AND SKELETAL-MUSCLE LAYERS OF THE WINTER FLOUNDER, PLEURONECTES-AMERICANUS

Winter flounder, Pleuronectes americanus, were starved during the summer feeding season. The condition factor of starved fish declined over the starvation period and was lower than that for fed or wild fish. Starvation resulted in a decrease of the hypodermal Lipid layer under the lateral line. White muscle water content was higher in fish in the starved state, reaching 94.6%. White muscle fibres were atrophic in appearance in starved fish, with decreased cross-sectional area, increased intercellular spacing, and increased space between myofibrils. Red muscle, located in a wedge under the lateral line, was conserved in starvation. Depletion of fat reserves and the ability to utilize white muscle protein as an energy store during starvation are indicated.