Lysosome activity in embryos and larvae of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.), spawned by broodstocks fed with vitamin C enriched diets

The lysozyme activity has been studied in fertilised eggs, embryos and fasting larvae of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). For the purpose, broodstocks of sea bass were fed on two types of diets, starting a month before the programmed spawning: one containing sufficient ascorbate for a normal growth and the other with an extra addition of a very high dose (2,000 mg/kg feed) of L-ascorbic acid (AA). The difference in lysozyme activity between the two groups was significant in three stages of development: embryos 48 hr and 72 hr after fertilisation and in larvae 24 hr after hatching. The research seems to demonstrate a positive correlation between L-ascorbic acid supplementation in broodstock diet and lysozyme activity in some stages of originated embryos and larvae, probably reflecting a better activation of the non-specific immune system.