Effect of age of winter flounder on some properties of the sarcoplasmic reticulum

Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) from winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) of various ages was investigated with regard to fluorescent age pigment (FAP), potential of enzymic lipid peroxidation, fatty acid composition, protein pattern and Ca2+-sequestering ability. FAP accumulation, protein pattern and Ca2+-sequestering ability were also evaluated after the SR were incubated in vitro with the peroxidizing cofactors: NADH, ADP and Fe3+. No difference in FAP content was observed in SR isolated from fish of different ages. However, a higher accumulation of FAP in muscle tissue from old fish was observed. A slow but significant increase in FAP in SR was observed when the SR from both young and old fish were incubated with peroxidizing cofactors. It was demonstrated that 4-year-old fish had higher levels of NADH-dependent lipid peroxidation in their SR than 2-year-old fish. No differences in fatty acid composition were observed in the SR of fish aged from 2 to 8 years old. Two species of high-molecular-weight protein were found to increase in SR isolated from aging fish. These species resembled the polymerized proteins derived after incubation of the SR with the peroxidizing cofactors. Ca2+-uptake decreased when the SR was incubated with peroxidizing cofactors, but the results are difficult to interpret since Ca2+-uptake of SR was affected by captive stress.