# Lipidomic Profiling of Dechorionated Fertilized Eggs and Egg Chorion in Three Tropical Marine Fish Species: Insights into Reproductive Physiology and Nutrition

## TL;DR

This study compares lipid profiles in fertilized eggs and egg envelopes of three tropical marine fish species to improve broodstock nutrition and egg quality.

## Contribution

The study provides a detailed lipidomic comparison of fertilized eggs and chorion across three tropical marine fish species, revealing species-specific lipid signatures.

## Key findings

- Egg chorions contain more structural and signaling lipids, while dechorionated eggs are rich in energy-storage lipids.
- Each species exhibits a unique lipid profile, suggesting tailored dietary lipid formulations may be needed for optimal egg quality.
- Key lipid pathways like glycerophospholipid metabolism and sphingolipid signaling are highlighted in early development.

## Abstract

Egg quality is a major bottleneck in marine fish aquaculture and is strongly influenced by the lipids supplied to broodstock. In this study, we compared the lipid composition of fertilized eggs (after removing the egg envelope) and the egg envelope (chorion) in three economically important tropical species—golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus), longfin batfish (Platax teira), and leopard coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus)—using high-resolution lipidomic profiling. We found clear differences among species and between tissues: egg envelopes were richer in lipids associated with structure and barrier function, whereas the dechorionated eggs contained more lipids linked to energy storage and early development. Each species showed a distinct lipid signature, indicating that broodstock of different species may require different dietary lipid formulations to consistently produce high-quality eggs. These results provide practical targets for improving broodstock nutrition and egg performance in tropical marine aquaculture and establish a reference dataset for future work on lipid-based biomarkers and egg quality management.

Broodstock nutrition is a key determinant of reproductive output in marine fishes because lipids support yolk formation, embryonic development, and early larval viability. However, the allocation of lipid classes between fertilized eggs and the egg envelope (chorion) remains poorly characterized for many tropical species. In this study, we performed a comparative lipidomic analysis of dechorionated fertilized egg contents and isolated chorion from three tropical marine fishes (Trachinotus ovatus, Platax teira, and Plectropomus leopardus) using UHPLC–Q Exactive Orbitrap MS/MS. Multivariate analyses revealed clear tissue- and species-specific lipid patterns. Dechorionated eggs were enriched in energy-storage lipids, dominated by triacylglycerols and essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, whereas chorion tissues contained higher levels of structural and signaling lipids, including phosphatidylinositols and sphingolipids. Each species exhibited a distinct lipid signature, with T. ovatus characterized by higher secosteroids and free fatty acids, P. teira by glycerophosphoethanolamines and phosphoinositols, and P. leopardus by abundant triradylglycerols. Pathway enrichment highlighted glycerophospholipid metabolism and sphingolipid signaling as prominent processes during early development. These findings clarify lipid partitioning between dechorionated fertilized egg contents and the chorion and provide a biochemical rationale for optimizing species-specific broodstock diets to enhance egg quality in tropical marine aquaculture.