EFFCT OF STARVATION ON METABOLISM AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF EELS

Eels taken from eel-culturing ponds in August and November were starved for three months at temperatures of 28 and 12°C, respectively. Oxygen consumption rate did not changed in relation to the duration of starvation. Nitrogen excretion, however, lowered remarkably during the initial 15 days, followed by a constant level, in three month starvation either at the high or low temperature. Relative liver weight of starved eels decreased rapidly during the initial 15 days followed by a nearly constant level at the high temperature, while at the low temperature it decreased at a rather constant rate throughout the experimental period of three months. The same tendency was also observed with the liver glycogen and the liver fat. It was found that weight, glycogen and fat of eel liver undergo more rapid and pronounced changes than those of carcass particularly in the early stages of starvation. Among three reserved substances, glycogen, fat and protein, glycogen shows the most rapid decrease in the course of starvation.