The apparent <i>in vivo</i> 18∶2n-6 and 18∶3n-3 bioconversion activity (nmol/g/day) in rainbow trout fed the two experimental diets (LLA and HLA) and deduced by the whole-body fatty acid balance method.

<p>Graphs are reported following the PUFA bioconversion pathway, from (<b>A</b>) substrate availability (dietary net intake); towards i) the dead end pathway (on the left): (<b>B</b>) elongation of 18∶2n-6 and 18∶3n-3; (<b>C</b>) elongation of 20∶2n-6 and 20∶3n-3; and ii) the LC-PUFA biosynthetic pathway(on the right): (<b>D</b>) Δ-6 desaturation of 18∶2n-6 and 18∶3n-3; (<b>E</b>) Elongation of 18∶3n-6 and 18∶4n-3; (<b>F</b>) Δ-5 desaturation of 20∶3n-6 and 20∶4n-3; (<b>G</b>) Elongation of 20∶4n-6 and 20∶5n-3; (<b>G</b>) Elongation, Δ-6 desaturation and chain shortening of 22∶4n-6 and 22∶5n-3. In each graph, bars represent mean ± s.e.m., <i>n</i> = 3; <i>N</i> = 6. P-value: <i>ns</i> = not significant; *, ** and *** indicate P<0.05, <0.01 and <0.001, respectively.