饲料中添加核苷酸对凡纳滨对虾幼虾生长、组织生化组成及非特异性免疫功能的影响

选用960尾初始体重为(0.43?0.01) g 的凡纳滨对虾,随机分为8组,分别投喂基础饲料和7种添加核苷酸混合物(mix-NT)的试验饲料,5种核苷酸(5′-腺苷酸∶5′-胞苷酸∶5′-尿苷酸二钠∶5′-肌苷酸二钠∶5′-鸟苷酸二钠)按照质量比为1∶1∶1∶1∶1(W/W)混合,添加量分别为0.1、0.2、0.4、0.6、0.8、1.0和1.2 g/kg 饲料,试验周期为5周。结果显示,当mixNT添加量为0.4 g/kg饲料时,凡纳滨对虾的增重率(WGR)、特定生长率(SGR)和摄食量(FI)显著高于对照组(P<0.05),饲料系数(FCR)比对照组降低5.5%(P>0.05)。0.6和1.0 g/kg mix-NT添加组的蛋白质沉积率(PDR)显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。试验组对虾存活率(SR)和肝胰指数(HSI)均不同程度的高于对照组,但差异不显著(P>0.05)。饲料中添加mix-NT对全虾粗脂肪、灰分含量的影响显著(P<0.05),各mix-NT添加组的全虾干物质和粗蛋白含量均高于对照组,但差异未达到显著水平(P>0.05)。肝胰腺RNA含量和总蛋白(TP)含量均随饲料中mix-NT添加量的增加而升高,其中0.2~1.0 g/kg组的肝胰腺RNA含量显著高于对照组(P<0.05),TP含量差异未达到显著水平(P>0.05);各mixNT添加组的肠道TP含量均显著高于对照组(P<0.05),0.4和0.6 g/kg组的肠道RNA量极显著高于对照组(P<0.01)。外源mix-NT显著降低血清尿酸(UA)含量(P<0.05),但对TP、谷丙转氨酶(GPT)、高密度脂蛋白(HDL)含量无显著影响(P>0.05)。当mix-NT添加量为1.2 g/kg 饲料时,血清中谷草转氨酶(GOt)活性显著性升高(P<0.05)。鳃和肌肉酚氧化酶(PO)活性均在0.4 g/kg组达到最大,其中0.1～0.6 g/kg 组的鳃PO活性显著高于对照组(P<0.05),而各组肌肉PO活性无显著差异(P>0.05)。凡纳滨对虾肝胰腺和血清中溶菌酶(LZM)活性随饲料中mix-NT添加量的增加而显著升高(P<0.05)。结果表明,饲料中添加一定量的5种核苷酸混合物能显著提高凡纳滨对虾幼虾的增重率、特定生长率、摄食量、蛋白质沉积率、全虾粗脂肪和灰分含量,一定程度提高全虾粗蛋白和肝胰腺总蛋白含量,显著增加肝胰腺RNA、肠道总蛋白和RNA含量,提高对虾的非特异性免疫功能。     

饲料中添加不同类型核苷酸对凡纳滨对虾生长性能的影响

以1种对照饲料和3种分别添加200mg/kg鸟苷酸（5′-GMP）、腺苷酸（5′-AMP）和尿苷酸（5′-UMP）的试验饲料饲养平均体重为1.04±0.02g的凡纳滨对虾8周,研究不同类型核苷酸对凡纳滨对虾生长性能及体成分组成的影响。试验结果显示,四组试验虾的增重率组间差异不显著（P〉0.05）;AMP组的存活率显著高于UMP组（P〈0.05）,各添加核苷酸组与对照组之间无显著差异;各组的饲料系数差异不显著（P〉0.05）;各组虾全虾的水分、粗蛋白、粗脂肪及灰分含量均没有显著差异,其中添加核苷酸各组的粗蛋白及粗脂肪含量均高于对照组。     

几种诱食剂对凡纳滨对虾生长、血清生化指标和肝胰腺消化酶的影响

在基础饲料中添加0.03%核苷酸、0.03%核苷酸+0.2%丙氨酸+0.2%甘氨酸、0.2%甘氨酸、0.2%柠檬酸+0.2%甘氨酸,饲养凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)6周,研究一种及几种组合型诱食剂对其生长、血清生化、肝胰腺消化酶以及抗氧化能力的影响。结果显示,饲料中添加0.03%核苷酸+0.2%丙氨酸+0.2%甘氨酸能显著提高凡纳滨对虾的增重率、特定生长率和日摄食率(P<0.05);饲料系数以及对虾的成活率不受添加这几种诱食剂的影响(P>0.05)。各组全虾粗蛋白和灰分含量差异不显著(P>0.05);添加0.2%甘氨酸全虾粗脂肪含量显著高于其它各组(P<0.05)。对虾血清中总蛋白、胆固醇、血糖、谷草转氨酶(AST)以及谷丙转氨酶(ALTc)的组间差异不显著(P>0.05)。对虾肝胰腺中脂肪酶活力在添加0.03%核苷酸最高,显著高于0.2%甘氨酸组;各组间淀粉酶活力差异不显著(P>0.05)。对虾血清中总抗氧化能力以添加0.2%柠檬酸+0.2%甘氨酸最高,与其它各处理差异显著(P<0.05)。结果表明,核苷酸与氨基酸的复合应用比单独添加核苷酸或氨基酸能显著提高凡纳滨对虾的摄食、生长以及抗氧化能力;在饲料中建议添加0.03%核苷酸+0.2%丙氨酸+0.2%甘氨酸。     

辣椒碱在凡纳滨对虾饲料中的应用研究

以凡纳滨对虾为试验对象,探讨在饲料中添加2 mg/kg的辣椒碱对凡纳滨对虾生长、免疫等方面的影响。试验结果表明,与对照组相比,试验组饲料中添加2 mg/kg辣椒碱后,凡纳滨对虾的生长性能指标显著改善,成活率、饲料系数显著优于对照组(P<0.05),血清中谷草转氨酶(AST)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)含量显著高于对照组(P<0.05),肝胰腺免疫抗氧化指标(MDA、SOD、CAT)水平及健康状况亦有所提升。     

饲料中益生菌对凡纳滨对虾生长、肠道菌群及部分免疫指标的影响

以初体质量为(0.11±0.00)g的凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)为研究对象,在室外水泥池进行10周饲喂实验,研究饲料中添加单一益生菌和复合益生菌对凡纳滨对虾生长、消化酶、肠道和粪便菌群及部分免疫指标的影响.以基础饲料为对照组,在基础饲料中分别添加地衣芽孢杆菌(Bacillus licheniformis)、枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)、虾乐333(复合益生菌)、地衣芽孢杆菌+枯草芽孢杆菌(1:1)、虾乐333+地衣芽孢杆菌+枯草芽孢杆菌(1:1:1)各1 g/kg,配制5种实验饲料.实验结果显示,复合益生菌饲喂组对虾的特定生长率显著高于对照组(P<0.05),而单一益生菌饲喂组与对照组差异不显著(P<0.05).饲料中添加益生菌能使凡纳滨对虾肠道蛋白酶和淀粉酶活力升高,其中复合益生菌饲喂组淀粉酶活力显著高于对照组(P<0.05).与对照组比,饲料中添加益生菌显著降低了肠道及粪便弧菌数(P<0.05),不同程度提高了凡纳滨对虾血清蛋白浓度、酚氧化酶活力、溶菌酶活力和总抗氧化力,其中添加复合益生菌能使血清蛋白浓度及溶菌酶活力较对照组显著提高(P<0.05).上述结果表明,与饲喂单一益生菌相比,复合益生菌对凡纳滨对虾的生长、免疫力具有更好的促进作用.     

益生菌对凡纳滨对虾生长和全虾营养组成的影响

研究了芽孢杆菌制剂（Bacillus sp．，10^9CFU·g^-1）对凡纳滨对虾Litopenaeus vannamei（初始体重0．03g·尾^-1）生长性能、全虾营养成分和氨基酸的影响。7种试验饲料中芽孢杆菌制剂的添加量分别为0，0．5，1．0，1．5，2．0，2．5和3．0g·kg^-1饲料。芽孢杆菌制剂对凡纳滨对虾的成活率没有显著影响。摄食添加益生菌1．0和1．5g·kg^-1饲料的凡纳滨对虾的增重率高并且饲料系数低于对照组，特别是添加量为1．0g·kg^-1时，差异显著；然而，其它添加量并不存在显著性差异。添加益生菌对凡纳滨对虾全虾的水分、蛋白质和灰分含量的影响不显著；投喂添加益生菌1．0和1．5g·kg^-1饲料，脂肪含量高于对照组。饲料中添加益生菌可以改变凡纳滨对虾全虾中部分氨基酸的含量。     

低盐度条件下的凡纳滨对虾幼虾亮氨酸营养需求

为了探讨低盐度(0.6～0.8 g/L)条件下初始体质量为(0.38±0.004)g的凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)幼虾的亮氨酸需求量,以鱼粉、花生麸和L-晶体氨基酸为蛋白源配制含粗蛋白400 g/kg的6种等氮饲料,标记为L7～L12组,各组亮氨酸水平分别为15.95、17.95、19.95、21.95、23.95和25.95 g/kg(饲料干物质).每组3个重复,每个重复30尾虾,进行56 d生长实验.结果表明,凡纳滨对虾幼虾的增重率随饲料亮氨酸水平的升高而升高,当亮氨酸水平达到23.95 g/kg(L11组)时,增重率达到最高值(1143.11±36.40)％,显著高于L7组(P＜0.05);亮氨酸水平继续提高,增重率变化不显著(P＞0.05).幼虾的蛋白质效率、全虾体蛋白沉积率和血淋巴总蛋白随着饲料亮氨酸水平的升高呈现升高趋势,最高值出现在L11组,并显著高于L7组(P＜0.05).各实验组饵料系数、血淋巴谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶活性和尿素氮含量则呈现降低的趋势,最低值出现在L11组,且显著低于L7组(P＜0.05).以增重率为指标,根据折线模型可知,低盐度条件下凡纳滨对虾幼虾的亮氨酸最适需要量为24.80 g/kg饲料,即61.99 g/kg饲料蛋白.     

抗菌肽对凡纳滨对虾生长和血清非特异性免疫指标的影响

为考察抗菌肽对凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)生长、饲料利用和免疫能力的影响,分别在基础组饲料中添加0 mg/kg(对照组)、300 mg/kg、400 mg/kg和500 mg/kg抗菌肽,投喂平均体重为(0.8±0.1 g)的凡纳滨对虾6周。结果表明,饲料中添加抗菌肽后,凡纳滨对虾的成活率均显著高于对照组(P<0.05);300 mg/kg抗菌肽组的增重率和饲料系数分别为509.10%、1.33,较对照组提高增重率8.76%(P<0.05),降低饲料系数12.5%(P<0.05),而添加400 mg/kg、500 mg/kg抗菌肽对增重率、饲料系数无显著影响,但显著提高了肌肉粗脂肪含量,各处理组在肌肉粗蛋白、水分含量上无显著差异;300 mg/kg、400 mg/kg抗菌肽组的血清碱性磷酸酶、超氧化物歧化酶、谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶及400 mg/kg抗菌肽组的溶菌酶均显著高于对照组。上述研究表明,饲料中添加300 mg/kg抗菌肽,可显著提高凡纳滨对虾成活率和增重率,降低饲料系数;添加400 mg/kg抗菌肽,对血清非特异性免疫指标有提高作用,凡纳滨对虾饲料中抗菌肽的添加量建议为300～400 mg/kg。     

酵母水解物对凡纳滨对虾生长、消化酶活性和肠道形态的影响

本实验旨在研究饲料中添加酵母水解物对凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)生长性能、血清生化指标、肝胰腺消化酶活性以及肠道形态的影响。酵母水解物添加量分别为0%、1%、3%和5%,配制4种等氮等脂(42.5%粗蛋白和8.5%粗脂肪)的实验饲料。选取初始体重为(1.86±0.02)g的凡纳滨对虾480尾,随机分为4组,每组4个重复,每个重复30尾,进行为期8周的养殖实验。结果表明饲料中添加5%酵母水解物组的增重率(WGR)、特定生长率(SGR)和蛋白质效率(PER)显著高于对照组(P0.05),而该组饲料系数(FCR)最低(P0.05)。对虾全虾粗蛋白含量随饲料中酵母水解物的增加而呈上升趋势,且5%酵母水解物添加组显著高于对照组(P0.05)。添加5%的酵母水解物显著提高了凡纳滨对虾血清总蛋白(TP)和甘油三酯(TG)含量,降低了谷草转氨酶(AST)和谷丙转氨酶(ALT)的活性(P0.05)。各处理组肝胰腺淀粉酶活性和对照组相比差异不显著(P0.05),但3%酵母水解物添加组的胰蛋白酶和脂肪酶活性显著高于对照组(P0.05)。3%酵母水解物添加组的对虾肠道皱襞高度和皱襞宽度显著高于对照组(P0.05),而5%添加组的微绒毛高度显著高于对照组(P0.05)。综上所述,在本实验条件下,饲料中添加3%~5%的酵母水解物能有效改善凡纳滨对虾生长性能、提高饲料利用率、促进消化吸收以及改善肠道形态学指标。     

硒源对凡纳滨对虾生长、体组成和抗氧化能力的影响

水温(29.0±1.3)℃,将初始体质量(0.41±0.01)g的凡纳滨对虾随机分为4组,每组3个重复,饲养在室内循环水养殖系统中,投喂基础饲料(对照组)及在此饲料中分别添加硒含量相等(0.30mg/kg)的亚硒酸钠、酵母硒和蛋氨酸硒的4种饲料,养殖56d,比较了不同硒源对凡纳滨对虾生长、体组成和抗氧化能力的影响。试验结果表明,蛋氨酸硒组对虾的生长性能显著高于对照组和亚硒酸钠组(P0.05)。外源硒可显著影响对虾体蛋白和脂肪含量(P0.05),蛋氨酸硒组对虾机体营养成分显著优于其他组(P0.05)。添加外源硒组对虾的血清总抗氧化能力和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性显著高于对照组(P0.05)。蛋氨酸硒组对虾血清丙二醛含量显著低于其他组(P0.05)。由此得出,饲料添加0.3mg/kg的硒能在一定程度上提高凡纳滨对虾的生长和抗氧化能力,蛋氨酸硒优于酵母硒和亚硒酸钠。     

核苷酸对大黄鱼生长性能、肠道形态和抗氧化能力的影响

为探究饲料中添加核苷酸对大黄鱼生长性能、肠道形态和抗氧化能力的影响,实验选取初始体质量为(7.71±0.02)g的大黄鱼幼鱼为研究对象,设置2个对照组,即高鱼粉对照组FM(鱼粉含量为45.0%)和低鱼粉对照组N0(鱼粉含量为31.5%),在低鱼粉对照组基础上分别添加0、75、150、300、600和1 000 mg/kg的核苷酸,共配制出7种等氮等脂饲料,在海水浮式网箱中进行为期63 d的养殖实验。结果表明:饲料中添加核苷酸对大黄鱼的存活率、饲料效率、摄食率、鱼体组成和形体指标没有显著影响(P0.05);但增重率随着核苷酸添加量的增加呈先升高后下降趋势,在添加量为300~600 mg/kg时显著高于其他处理组(P0.05)。随着核苷酸添加量的增加,血清中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和总抗氧化力(T-AOC)的活力呈先升高后下降的趋势,并在300 mg/kg时显著高于低鱼粉对照组(P0.05)。核苷酸对大黄鱼肠道肌肉层厚度和微绒毛高度有显著影响(P0.05),分别在添加量为150和300mg/kg时出现最大值;而对肠道褶皱高度无显著影响(P0.05)。结果表明,饲料中添加核苷酸能促进大黄鱼生长,改善肠道形态结构和增强机体的抗氧化能力。以增重率为指标,利用折线模型计算得到大黄鱼幼鱼饲料中核苷酸的适宜添加量为194.91 mg/kg。     

Effects of dietary nucleotides on the antioxidant status and serum lipids of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

An 8‐week feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary nucleotides (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 g kg^?1) on serum antioxidative biomarkers and lipid contents of rainbow trout fingerlings. The serum triglycerides and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL)‐C levels were significantly decreased in fish fed diets containing 1.5 and 2 g kg^?1, whereas serum high‐density lipoprotein (HDL)‐C was higher in trout receiving diets with those levels of nucleotides. A significant decrease in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances concentration was observed in groups receiving 1.5 or 2 g kg^?1 of dietary nucleotides in comparison with control group (?32% and ?27%, respectively). A significant decrease was observed in catalase and serum glutathione peroxidase activity in trout fed 1.5 and 2 g kg^?1 dietary nucleotides compare with other groups. There were no significant changes in serum superoxide dismutase activity among the experimental groups. In conclusion, these results suggest that dietary nucleotides may reduce lipid peroxidation by increasing the levels of antioxidant lipoprotein, HDL‐C, and decreasing the LDL‐C, the main substrate of lipid peroxidation.     

Nucleotide nutrition in fish: Current knowledge and future applications

The roles of nucleotides and metabolites in fish diets have been sparingly studied for over 25 years. Beside possible involvement in diet palatability, fish feeding behavior and biosynthesis of non-essential amino acids, exogenous nucleotides have shown promise most recently as dietary supplements to enhance immunity and disease resistance of fish produced in aquaculture. Research on dietary nucleotides in fishes has shown they may improve growth in early stages of development, enhance larval quality via broodstock fortification, alter intestinal structure, increase stress tolerance as well as modulate innate and adaptive immune responses. Fishes fed nucleotide-supplemented diets generally have shown enhanced resistance to viral, bacterial and parasitic infection. Despite occasional inconsistency in physiological responses, dietary supplementation of nucleotides has shown rather consistent beneficial influences on various fish species. Although nucleotide nutrition research in fishes is in its infancy and many fundamental questions remain unanswered, observations thus far support the contention that nucleotides are conditionally or semi-essential nutrients for fishes, and further exploration of dietary supplementation of nucleotides for application in fish culture is warranted. Hypothesized reason(s) associated with these beneficial effects include dietary provision of physiologically required levels of nucleotides due to limited synthetic capacity of certain tissues (e.g. lymphoid), inadequate energetic expenditure for de novo synthesis, immunoendocrine interactions and modulation of gene expression patterns. However, currently there are numerous gaps in existing knowledge about exogenous nucleotide application to fish including various aspects of digestion, absorption, metabolism, and influences on various physiological responses especially expression of immunogenes and modulation of immunoglobulin production. Additional information is also needed in regard to age/size-related responses and appropriate doses and timing of administration. Thus further research in these areas should be pursued.     

A preliminary study on the effects of dietary supplementation of brewers yeast and nucleotides, singularly or in combination, on juvenile red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with brewers yeast (Brewtech^®) and nucleotides (Optimûn), either singularly or in combination, on red drum growth, body composition, stress responses and possible resistance to Amyloodinium ocellatum infection. Juvenile red drum (～1 g initially) fed practical fish‐meal‐based diets for 6 weeks had similar weight gain regardless of whether the diet was unsupplemented (basal) or supplemented with brewers yeast (2% of diet), nucleotides (Optimûn at 0.2% of diet) or both brewers yeast (2% of diet) and nucleotides (Optimûn at 0.2% of diet). Dietary effects on hepatosomatic index, intraperitoneal fat ratio or whole‐body composition were not significant, except that fish fed the singular nucleotide supplement had a significantly higher whole‐body lipid content compared with fish fed the basal diet. No significant dietary effects on cortisol response were observed after a 15 min confinement stress test perhaps because of the extreme variation among individual fish. Subsequently, in situ challenge by co‐habitation with A. ocellatum caused 100% mortality regardless of dietary treatment within a 48 h period. It is concluded that dietary supplementation of brewers yeast and nucleotides did not promote enhanced growth or improved cortisol response and resistance to uncontrolled amyloodiniosis in juvenile red drum, at least at the tested dosages.     

Effect of nucleotides supplementation to low‐fish meal feed on long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of nucleotides supplementation to low‐fish meal feed on growth and fatty acid composition of rainbow trout. Six isonitrogenous (42% crude protein) and isolipidic (18% crude lipid) diets were formulated containing fish meal and plant ingredients as main protein sources. The control diet was a basal diet without supplementation of nucleotides, and five experimental diets were prepared by supplementing one of the five different nucleotides in the form of 5′‐monophosphate (0.15%), that is inosine (IMP), adenosine (AMP), guanosine (GMP), uridine (UMP) and cytidine (CMP) onto basal diet. Two hundred forty juvenile rainbow trout with an initial average body weight 9.8 g were randomly distributed into twelve aquaria. After 15 weeks of feeding period, growth performance and feed utilization of rainbow trout were not significantly different among dietary treatments. Dietary GMP, UMP and CMP tended to accumulate crude lipid in the muscle and whole fish body. Moreover, dietary GMP, UMP and CMP significantly increased hepatic 18:3n‐3 and long‐chain homologue 18:4n‐3 and 20:4n‐3 contents. Hepatic 18:2n‐6 content showed also increase in fish fed GMP, UMP and CMP diets, but decreased in long‐chain homologue 20:3n‐6 and 20:4n‐6 contents. Decrease in 20:4n‐6, 20:5n‐3 and 22:6n‐3 contents was also found in the muscle of fish fed IMP, GMP and CMP diets. The present study clearly showed that there was no positive effect of dietary nucleotides on growth of fish, but dietary nucleotides particularly GMP, UMP and CMP altered polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of rainbow trout.     

Dietary β-Glucan and Nucleotide Effects on Growth,Survival and Immune Responses of Pacific White Shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

Effects of dietary supplementation of β-glucans and nucleotides on growth, survival and immune responses of the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) at a low salinity (5 ppt) were evaluated during a 30 d feeding trial. Final mean weight of shrimp fed nucleotides at 0.5%?was highest and significantly different from those fed the basal diet or diets supplemented with β-glucans. Survival was significantly higher for shrimp fed the diet with 0.2%?β-glucans compared to all other diets and was lowest for shrimp fed the basal diet. Shrimp fed diets containing β-glucans and nucleotides had generally better immune responses than shrimp fed the basal diet with higher total hemocyte count (THC) recorded for shrimp fed 0.2%?β-glucans followed by those fed 0.2%?nucleotides. Shrimp fed diets with 0.2%?and 0.5%?nucleotides and 0.2%?β-glucans had significantly higher respiratory burst values than shrimp fed the basal diet. These results indicated that dietary supplementation of either nucleotides or β-glucans has beneficial effects in improving shrimp performance when cultured at low salinity.     

酵母核苷酸对异育银鲫生长和免疫酶活性的影响

在基础饲料中分别添加0(对照组)、86、172、258、344和430 mg/kg的酵母核苷酸,饲喂异育银鲫(Car-assius auratus gibelio)75 d,研究酵母核苷酸对其生长和免疫酶活性的影响。结果显示:添加344 mg/kg和430mg/kg的酵母核苷酸组显著促进了异育银鲫的生长和降低了饲料系数,添加172 mg/kg的酵母核苷酸显著提高了异育银鲫血清中溶菌酶活力和碱性磷酸酶活性。考虑生长和免疫酶两方面因素,异育银鲫饲料中酵母核苷酸的适宜添加量为344 mg/kg。     

Dietary nucleotide supplementation enhances the growth,immune response,and disease resistance of the juvenile giant freshwater prawn,Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Aquaculture International - A 56-day feeding trial was conducted to study the effects of dietary nucleotides on growth performance, non-specific immunity, and disease resistance of the juvenile...     

Dietary nucleotides improve the growth performance,antioxidative capacity and intestinal morphology of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

A growth trial was conducted to evaluate the effects and safety of nucleotides in low fish meal diets on the growth performance, antioxidative capacity and intestinal morphology of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). High fish meal control diet was formulated with 500 g kg^?1 fish meal. Seven levels (0.075, 0.15, 0.225, 0.300, 1.5 and 3.0 g kg^?1, respectively) of nucleotides were added to a low fish meal basal diet, which was formulated with 400 g kg^?1 fish meal. The eight experimental diets were fed to groups of juvenile turbot (initial weight: 6.0 ± 0.03 g) for 60 days. Results showed that compared with high fish meal control diet, low fish meal basal diet treatment had lower total antioxidative capacity (T‐AOC), glutathione peroxidase activity, fold height of proximal and distal intestine, enterocyte height of all evaluated enteric section and microvillus height of mid‐intestine and distal intestine (P < 0.05). However, supplemented nucleotides in diets could significantly improve growth (specific growth rate, SGR), feed utilization, antioxidative capacity and intestinal morphology of turbot (P < 0.05). Broken‐line regression analysis of SGR and T‐AOC showed that the optimal supplemental levels of dietary nucleotide for juvenile turbot were 0.366 and 0.188 g kg^?1, respectively. In summary, 0.300 g kg^?1 of dietary nucleotides was helpful in improving growth, feed utilization, antioxidative capacity and intestinal morphology of turbot fed with low fish meal diet. Excessive dietary nucleotides (3.0 g kg^?1) might cause oxidative stress and morphological damage in intestine and then reduce the growth of turbot.     

Dietary Supplementation of a Purified Nucleotide Mixture Transiently Enhanced Growth and Feed Utilization of Juvenile Red Drum, Sciaenops ocellatus

Abstract.— Commercial nucleotide products have been shown to enhance early growth as well as immunity and disease resistance in aquacultured fish. Thus, we investigated effects of a purified nucleotide mixture on growth and health of young red drum. The nucleotide premix, containing salts of cytidine, uridine, adenosine, and guanidine, was coated with binders, freeze-dried, and grounded to powder. A fish-meal-based diet was supplemented with 0.03, 0.1, or 0.3% by weight of the coated nucleotide mixture or with 0.2% Optimûn^® (Chemoforma Co., Basel, Switzerland), a commercial nucleotide product. The experimental diets were maintained isonitrogenous and isocaloric by adjusting amounts of casein, gelatin, and alanine. Five replicate groups of 12 juvenile red drum (10.2 ± 0.2 g/fish, mean ± SD) were fed each experimental diet for 4 wk, followed by an assay of neutrophil oxidative radical production and a bacterial challenge via intraperitoneal injection of Vibrio harveyi at 2.9 × 10⁷ colony-forming units/g fish. Fish fed all diets supplemented with various levels of purified nucleotides showed significantly ( P  < 0.01) enhanced weight gain and feed efficiency during the first week of feeding compared to fish fed the basal diet. However, the dietary effects became less significant during the following 3 wk of feeding. The transient growth-enhancing effect of dietary nucleotides observed in the present study may explain the conventional controversy about nucleotide effects on fish growth. Dietary supplementation with nucleotides had no influence on terminal whole-body composition.