胆碱对高脂胁迫的团头鲂肝脏抗氧化、组织结构和免疫力的影响

以初始体质量(42.20±0.34)g团头鲂为研究对象,研究饲料中添加胆碱对高脂胁迫团头鲂肝脏抗氧化、组织结构和免疫力的影响。实验采用2×2因子设计方法,共配置2个脂肪水平(5%和15%)和2个胆碱水平(1200和2200 mg/kg)的等氮饲料4组。养殖实验在室内循环水系统中进行,养殖周期为8周。养殖实验结束后进行血液和肝脏生化指标、肝脏抗氧化指标和非特异性免疫指标等的检测分析,以及观察肝细胞的超微结构变化。结果显示,当饲料中添加1200 mg/kg胆碱时,随着脂肪水平的升高,团头鲂肝脏脂肪含量和甘油三酯浓度显著增加,而血浆中谷草转氨酶(AST)和谷丙转氨酶(ALT)活性则显著上升;肝脏中丙二醛(MDA)含量、总超氧化物歧化酶(t-SOD)活性、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)活性等显著升高;血液中白细胞数、溶菌酶活性、总蛋白和球蛋白水平以及还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)活性显著降低;超微结构观察到肝细胞中存在大量脂滴,伴随着细胞核变性、核膜残缺、线粒体水肿等异常现象。这些结果表明高脂日粮不仅导致肝细胞的结构和功能的损伤,而且造成肝脏氧化应激和机体免疫力的下降。在高脂饲料(15%脂肪)中添加2200 mg/kg胆碱,可显著降低肝脏脂肪含量、血浆谷草转氨酶(AST)和谷丙转氨酶(ALT)活性,显著降低肝脏丙二醛(MDA)含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性,并显著提高白细胞数和球蛋白水平以及还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)活性,同时肝细胞形态及细胞器结构也趋于正常。研究表明,添加适量胆碱能够减少肝脏脂肪沉积,维持肝脏结构和功能的正常,并增强团头鲂抗氧化能力和机体免疫力,继而保持鱼体的健康。     

Berberine attenuates oxidative stress and hepatocytes apoptosis via protecting mitochondria in blunt snout bream <Emphasis Type="Italic">Megalobrama amblycephala</Emphasis> fed high-fat diets

High-fat diets may have favorable effects on growth and cost, but high-fat diets often induce excessive fat deposition, resulting in liver damage. This study aimed to identify the hepatoprotective of a Chinese herb (berberine) for blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). Fish were fed with a normal diet (LFD, 5 % fat), high-fat diet (HFD, 15 % fat) or berberine-supplemented diets (BSD, 15 % fat with berberine 50 or 100 mg/kg level) for 8 weeks. After the feeding, histology, oxidative status and mitochondrial function of liver were assessed. The results showed that HFD caused fat accumulation, oxidative stress and apoptosis in hepatocytes of fish. Hepatocytes in HFD group appeared to be hypertrophied, with larger liver cells diameter than these of LFD group. Berberine-supplemented diets could attenuate oxidative stress and hepatocytes apoptosis. HFD induced the decreasing mitochondrial complexes activities and bulk density and surface area density. Berberine improved function of mitochondrial respiratory chain via increasing the complex activities. Moreover, the histological results showed that berberine has the potential to repair mitochondrial ultrastructural damage and elevate the density in cells. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that berberine has attenuated liver damage induced by the high fat mainly via the protection for mitochondria.     

Effect of dietary betaine on growth performance,antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism in blunt snout bream fed a high-fat diet

An 8-week feeding experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary betaine levels on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and lipid metabolism in high-fat diet-fed blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) with initial body weight 4.3 ± 0.1 g [mean ± SEM]. Five practical diets were formulated to contain normal-fat diet (NFD), high-fat diet (HFD), and high-fat diet with betaine addition (HFB) at difference levels (0.6, 1.2, 1.8%), respectively. The results showed that the highest final body weight (FBW), weight gain ratio (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), condition factor (CF), and feed intake (FI) (P < 0.05) were obtained in fish fed 1.2% betaine supplementation, whereas feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly lower in the same group compared to others. Hepatosomatic index (HSI) and abdominal fat rate (AFR) were significantly high in fat group compared to the lowest in NDF and 1.2% betaine supplementation, while VSI and survival rate (SR) were not affected by dietary betaine supplementation. Significantly higher (P < 0.05), plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), cortisol, and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) content were observed in HFD but were improved when supplemented with 1.2% betaine. In addition, increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and reduced glutathione (GSH) in 1.2% betaine inclusion could reverse the increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) level induced by HFD. Based on the second-order polynomial analysis, the optimum growth of blunt snout bream was observed in fish fed HFD supplemented with 1.2% betaine. HFD upregulated fatty acid synthase messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and downregulated carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein mRNA expression; nevertheless, 1.2% betaine supplementation significantly reversed these HFD-induced effects, implying suppression of fatty acid synthesis, β-oxidation, and lipid transport. This present study indicated that inclusion of betaine (1.2%) can significantly improve growth performance and antioxidant defenses, as well as reduce fatty acid synthesis and enhance mitochondrial β-oxidation and lipid transportation in high-fat diet-fed blunt snout bream, thus effectively alleviating fat accumulation in the liver by changing lipid metabolism.     

Resveratrol supplementation improves lipid and glucose metabolism in high-fat diet-fed blunt snout bream

Here, we aimed to investigate whether resveratrol (RSV) can ameliorate high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic disorder in fish. Blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) with average weight 27.99 ± 0.56 g were fed a normal fat diet (NFD, 5% fat, w/w), a HFD (11% fat), or a HFD supplemented with 0.04, 0.36, or 1.08% RSV for 10 weeks. As expected, fish fed a HFD developed hepatic steatosis, as shown by elevated hepatic and plasma triglycerides, raised whole body fat, intraperitoneal fat ratio and hepatosomatic index, and increased plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). RSV supplementation lessened increases in body mass, whole body fat, and intraperitoneal fat, and alleviated development of hepatic steatosis, elevations of plasma triglyceride and glucose, and abnormalities of ALT and AST in HFD-fed fish. RSV supplementation increased SIRT1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and consequently hepatic mRNA expression of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT1a), and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP), implying upregulation of lipolysis, β-oxidation, and lipid transport, respectively, in the liver. Conversely, hepatic lipoprotein lipase (LPL), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1c), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), and ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) mRNA expression were decreased, implying suppression of fatty acid uptake, lipogenesis, and fatty acid synthesis. Additionally, RSV downregulated glucokinase (GCK) and sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) and upregulated glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) mRNA expression, thus restoring normal glucose fluxes. Thus, RSV improves lipid and glucose metabolisms in blunt snout bream, which are potentially mediated by activation of SIRT1.     

Anti-stress properties and two HSP70s mRNA expressions of blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) fed with all-plant-based diet

The influence of all-plant-based diet on fingerling blunt snout breams (Megalobrama amblycephala) was tested by examining growth performance, anti-stress properties and related gene expression. Healthy fish were randomly divided into triplicate groups per dietary treatment and fed with different formulated diets. The results showed that both weight gain, specific growth rate and protein efficiency ratio of all-plant-based diet group were significant higher than those of the control (p < 0.05). In contrast, FCR of all-plant-based diet group was significantly lower than that of the control (p < 0.05). Therefore, all-plant-based diets could not affect the growth performance of blunt snout breams. Compared to the control group, the lysozyme levels in serum and mucus, and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase activities in serum and liver decreased significantly (p < 0.05). In contrast, the glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activities in serum and liver increased significantly (p < 0.05). For blunt snout breams fed with all-plant-based diets, the superoxide dismutase activities in mucus, serum and liver as well as catalase activity in serum and liver were decreased significantly (p < 0.05) comparing with that of the control group. But malondialdehyde contents were higher (p < 0.05) in serum and liver than that of control group. The expression of HSC70 mRNA increased significantly (p < 0.05) in blunt snout breams fed with all-plant-based diet, whereas the HSP70 mRNA expression decreased significantly (p < 0.05) when compared with control group. In conclusion, all these results indicated that the application of all-plant-based diet could decrease the anti-stress properties (non-specific immunity, stress resistance and antioxidant ability) and HSP70 mRNA expression in blunt snout breams fingerling. Although all-plant-based diets could not affect the growth performance of blunt snout breams, the application of all-plant-based diet should be discreet in the production practice.     

Growth Performance,Fatty Acid Composition,Peroxisome Proliferator‐activated Receptors Gene Expressions,and Antioxidant Abilities of Blunt Snout Bream,Megalobrama amblycephala,Fingerlings Fed Different Dietary Oil Sources

A 60‐d feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of different dietary oil sources on growth, fatty acid composition, peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR) gene expression levels, and antioxidant responses of blunt snout bream, Megalobrama amblycephala, fingerlings. Fish (average initial weight, 0.35 ± 0.01 g) were fed five experimental diets respectively containing fish oil (FO), soybean oil, canola oil, peanut oil, and palm oil (PaO). Results showed that body weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio did not significantly differ among treatments. Fish fed PaO diet showed significantly higher hepatosomatic index value and liver lipid content than those fed FO diet. The FO group showed significantly higher liver eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n‐3) + docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n‐3) concentrations than other groups in both neutral lipid and polar lipid fractions. The mRNA expression levels of PPAR‐α and PPAR‐γ in the liver were significantly increased by feeding vegetable oil diets compared to FO. The activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase in livers of fish fed PaO diet were lower than those fed FO diet. Meanwhile, PaO group had significantly lower malondialdehyde value than other groups. In conclusion, we suggested that a combination of FO and vegetable oil diet should be used in feed formulations for blunt snout bream fingerlings.     

甘草次酸对团头鲂生长、脂肪沉积与抗氧化功能的影响

为探讨甘草次酸对团头鲂生长、脂肪沉积和抗氧化功能的影响,选取均体质量为(15.63±0.04)g的团头鲂幼鱼420尾,随机分在15个网箱中,分别以甘草次酸水平为0、0.15、0.30、0.45和0.60 g/kg的5种饲料投喂8周。结果发现,饲料添加甘草次酸对团头鲂增重率、特定生长率、饵料系数没有显著影响(P0.05)。甘草次酸可以显著降低实验鱼脏体比、肝体比、腹脂率及肝脏脂肪含量(P0.05),但对全鱼体组成和肌肉脂肪含量无显著影响(P0.05)。比对血浆脂肪代谢酶可见,0.30~0.60 g/kg甘草次酸添加组血浆总胆固醇含量较对照组显著下降(P0.05);而甘油三酯、游离脂肪酸和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇含量无显著变化(P0.05)。肝脏中脂蛋白酯酶、肝酯酶和总酯酶活性在添加甘草次酸后显著降低(P0.05);0.30~0.60 g/kg甘草次酸添加组脂肪酶活性显著高于其他各组(P0.05)。饲料添加甘草次酸可以显著提高肝脏超氧化物歧化酶活性和还原型谷胱甘肽含量,降低丙二醛含量(P0.05)。研究表明,饲料中添加0.30~0.45 g/kg甘草次酸时,显著降低了团头鲂内脏团的脂肪沉积,改善了鱼体脂肪分布,这可能是由于甘草次酸加强脂解作用,提高脂肪代谢酶活性导致的;饲料中添加甘草次酸也可显著提高团头鲂的抗氧化能力。     

Effects of diet supplementation with white tea and methionine on lipid metabolism of gilthead sea bream juveniles (Sparus aurata)

A growth trial was performed with gilthead sea bream juveniles (Sparus aurata) to evaluate the effect of diet supplementation with white tea and methionine on fish performance and lipid metabolism. For that purpose, four diets were formulated: a fish meal–based diet (Control) and diets identical to the control diet but supplemented with 2.9 % white tea (Tea), 0.3 % methionine (Met) or 2.9 % white tea plus 0.3 % methionine (Tea + Met). Growth performance and feed efficiency parameters, whole-body and liver composition, plasma metabolites concentration and liver glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), malic enzyme (ME) and fatty acid synthetase (FAS) activities were determined. Feed intake was higher in fish fed methionine–supplemented diets, whereas this parameter and growth was decreased in fish fed white tea supplementation. Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were not affected by diet composition. Plasma HDL cholesterol and total lipids concentration were higher in fish fed white tea–supplemented diets. Whole-body lipid, plasma glucose, liver glycogen concentration and liver G6PDH, ME and FAS activities were lower in fish fed white tea–supplemented diets. Results of the present study indicate that methionine seems to act as a feed attractant in diets for sea bream juveniles. Additionally, white tea is an important modulator of lipid metabolism in sea bream juveniles.     

饲料不同淀粉水平对团头鲂成鱼生长性能、消化酶活性及肌肉成分的影响

为探讨饲料淀粉水平对团头鲂成鱼生长、消化酶活性和肌肉成分的影响,选用初始均重为(161±2.7)g的团头鲂成鱼360尾,随机分成6组(每组3个重复),分别投喂含淀粉17.1%、21.8%、26.4%、32.0%、36.3%和41.9%的等氮等脂饲料9周。结果发现,团头鲂成鱼成活率和特定生长率不受饲料淀粉水平影响,但饲料添加适量淀粉能提高饲料和蛋白利用率,淀粉水平对肝脏和肠道中的总蛋白酶和纤维素酶活性不产生影响,却显著影响淀粉酶活性。肝体比、肝糖原和肌肉粗脂肪含量随饲料淀粉含量的增加而显著增加,血清血糖、胆固醇和甘油三酯含量不受饲料淀粉水平的显著影响,饲料中添加过量淀粉显著降低了血清补体3和补体4含量。以蛋白质效率和饲料效率为评价指标,经折线模型回归分析,得到团头鲂成鱼饲料中淀粉的适宜添加量分别为饲料干重的34.1%和31.4%,但考虑到血清补体的活性,团头鲂成鱼日粮淀粉水平不应超过36.3%。     

团头鲂对饲料中Zn的需求量

为了研究团头鲂对饲料中Zn的需要量,以平均体质量50 g的团头鲂为实验对象,采用半纯化饲料,以ZnSO4·H2O为锌源,设置Zn添加量分别为0、68、137、206、275 mg/kg(饲料中Zn总量为22.85、98.07、164.00、235.43、307.96 mg/kg)共5个Zn含量梯度,每个实验组设4个平行,在池塘网箱中养殖43 d。经过回归拟合分析,饲料中Zn添加量、饲料中Zn总量与团头鲂特定生长率、饲料系数、蛋白质沉积率、脂肪沉积率的关系,得到团头鲂对饲料中无机Zn补充量为155.86~161.25 mg/kg,对饲料总Zn需要量为184.85~190.39 mg/kg;在日均摄食量为5.12 g/100 g体质量下,团头鲂对饲料Zn日需求量为0.798~0.825 mg/100 g体质量,对饲料总Zn日需要量为0.946~0.974 mg/100 g体质量。饲料中Zn含量对团头鲂的成活率、肥满度、内脏指数、鳞片重/体质量、体质量/体长、脊椎骨重/体质量无显著影响(P0.05)。饲料中Zn含量对团头鲂的脊椎骨长/体长有显著影响(P0.05);饲料中Zn的补充,有利于团头鲂脊椎骨的生长。     

Effect of guar gum on glucose and lipid metabolism in white sea bream Diplodus sargus

The aim of this study was to assess the role of soluble non-starch polysaccharide (guar gum) on white sea bream Diplodus sargus, glucose and lipid metabolism. A control diet was formulated to contain 40 % crude protein, 14 % crude lipids and 35 % pregelatinized maize starch, and three other diets were formulated similar to the control diet except for guar gum, which was included at 4 % (diet GG4), 8 % (diet GG8) or 12 % (diet GG12). Diets were fed to the fish for 9 weeks on a pair-feeding scheme. Guar gum had no effect on growth performance, feed efficiency, glycaemia, cholesterolaemia and plasma triacylglyceride levels. Hepatic glucokinase and pyruvate kinase activities, liver glycogen content and liver insulin-like growth factor-I gene expression were not affected by dietary guar gum, while fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase activity was lower in fish fed guar gum–supplemented diets. Hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was higher in fish fed diets GG4 and GG8 than in the control group. Overall, data suggest that in contrast to mammals guar gum had no effect on white sea bream glucose utilization and in lowering plasma cholesterol and triacylglyceride levels. However, it seems to contribute to lower endogenous glucose production.     

Morphological and physiological evaluation of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L., 1758) fed extruded compound feeds containing different fat levels

The study was carried out to examine morphological and physiological effects of different levels of fat in compound extruded feed for carp. A 90 days experiment was performed in tanks with water flow 0.34 L min^?1, stocked each with 29 specimens of carp, average weight 15.4 ± 4.2 g. The fish was fed 3 diets containing 38 % protein and 8, 12 or 16 % of fat (feed L8, L12, and L16, respectively). Body weight gain, specific growth rate, food conversion ratio, feed efficiency ratio, condition factor, liver and intestine histology and morphometry and some blood biochemical parameters were analysed. At the end of the experiment, a difference was established between the fish fed L8 feed compared to carp fed L12 and L16 feed for all growth parameters. For several other parameters, nuclear area of hepatocytes, nuclear/cytoplasm ratio, enterocytes height and intestinal folds’ length, a difference between carp fed feed L8 compared to feed L16 was found. The histological analysis revealed that normal structure of the liver and intestine prevailed, but changes were observed regardless of the diet type. In the hepatopancreas, more prominent changes were found around pancreatic tissue—particularly, increased number and size of adipocytes. Although blood biochemical parameters were within normal values, a difference between L8 and L16 diet-fed carp was found for plasma levels of triglycerides and total proteins. According to the results obtained in this study, the best results were achieved using a feed with 8 % fat.     

Effects of dietary amylose/amylopectin ratio on growth performance,feed utilization,digestive enzymes,and postprandial metabolic responses in juvenile obscure puffer Takifugu obscurus

The effect of dietary amylose/amylopectin (AM/AP) ratio on growth, feed utilization, digestive enzyme activities, plasma parameters, and postprandial blood glucose responses was evaluated in juvenile obscure puffer, Takifugu obscurus. Five isonitrogenous (430 g kg^?1 crude protein) and isolipidic (90 g kg^?1 crude lipid) diets containing an equal starch level (250 g kg^?1 starch) with different AM/AP ratio diets of 0/25, 3/22, 6/19, 9/16 and 12/13 were formulated. Each experimental diet was fed to triplicate groups (25 fish per tank), twice daily during a period of 60 days. After the growth trial, a postprandial blood response test was carried out. Fish fed diet 6/19 showed best growth, feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio. Hepatosomatic index, plasma total cholesterol concentration, liver glycogen and lipid content, and gluconokinase, pyruvate kinase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase activities were lower in fish fed highest AM/AP diet (12/13) than in fish fed the low-amylose diets. Activities of liver and intestinal trypsin in fish fed diet 3/22 and diet 6/19 were higher than in fish fed diet 9/16 and diet 12/13. Activities of liver and intestinal amylase and intestinal lipase, and starch digestibility were negatively correlated with dietary AM/AP ratio. Fish fed diet 3/22 and diet 6/19 showed higher plasma total amino acid concentration than fish fed the other diets, while plasma urea nitrogen concentration and activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase showed the opposite trend. Equal values were found for viscerosomatic index and condition factor, whole body and muscle composition, plasma high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, and activities of lipase and hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphatase in liver. Postprandial plasma glucose and triglyceride peak value of fish fed diet 12/13 were lower than in fish fed the low-amylose diets, and the peak time of plasma glucose was later than in fish fed the other diets. Plasma glucose and triglyceride concentrations showed a significant difference at 2 and 4 h after a meal and varied between dietary treatments. According to regression analysis of weight gain against dietary AM/AP ratio, the optimum dietary AM/AP ratio for maximum growth of obscure puffer was 0.25. The present result indicates that dietary AM/AP ratio could affect growth performance and feed utilization, some plasma parameters, digestive enzyme as well as hepatic glucose metabolic enzyme activities in juvenile obscure puffer.     

Necessity of dietary taurine supplementation for preventing green liver symptom and improving growth performance in yearling red sea bream Pagrus major fed nonfishmeal diets based on soy protein concentrate

The necessity of dietary taurine supplementation for preventing green liver symptom and improving growth performance of red sea bream Pagrus major fed nonfishmeal (non-FM) diets was investigated. Yearling red sea bream (initial body weight, 580 g) were fed for 36 weeks on non-FM diets based on soy protein concentrate (SPC) supplemented with taurine at levels of 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%. Specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of fish fed the taurine-unsupplemented SPC diet were markedly inferior. In these fish, incidence of green liver was markedly higher and was accompanied by a decrease of tissue taurine concentration and an increase of hepatopancreatic bile pigment content. The green liver symptom was mainly caused by an increase of hemolysis since the erythrocytes became osmotically fragile due to taurine deficiency. Physiological abnormality and growth performance (SGR and FCR) were markedly improved by taurine supplementation to the SPC diets. These results indicate that dietary taurine supplementation is necessary for yearling red sea bream fed non-FM diet based on SPC to maintain normal physiological condition and growth performance.     

Preclinical toxicity and safety evaluation of Althaea officinalis L. extract as naturopathic medicine in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.): Hematological and biochemical study

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of marshmallow extract (Althaea officinalis L.) administration on blood cells and biochemical parameters of carp liver. A total of 150 carps (Cyprinus carpio, initial body mass of 37.7 ± 4.4 g) were fed diets containing 0.0 (control diet), 2.5, 5, and 10 g marshmallow extract for 60 days. On days 30 and 60 of the experiment blood samples were collected and hematological parameters and liver enzyme activities—aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)—were measured. No significant difference was found (p > .05) in red blood cells (RBC); hemoglobin concentration (Hb); hematocrit (Htc); mean corpuscular volume (MCV); mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCH); or the percentage of neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils in fish fed with different concentrations of marshmallow extract on days 30 and 60. However, the white blood cell (WBC) count was increased significantly in the fish fed for 60 days with feed supplemented with 5 g marshmallow extract (p < .05). The MCHC was increased signi?cantly in ?sh fed with diets supplemented with 2.5 g marshmallow extract for 60 days (p < .05). Administration of marshmallow extract (5 g) significantly increased (p < 0.05) lymphocytes on days 30 and 60. However, dietary intake of 10 g marshmallow extract had significantly decreased the monocyte percentage after 60 days. A significant increase was observed in AST, ALT, ALP, and LDH levels in livers of fish fed with extract 10 g, which may be attributed to cytotoxicity. However, marshmallow extract 2.5 and 5 g did not have adverse effects on liver enzymes. These results indicate that preclinical dietary supplementations of 2.5 and 5 g marshmallow extract per kg diet have no side effects on common carp.     

Growth,feed utilization,and liver histology of juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed diets containing increasing levels of swine fat

Due to predictions that the expanding aquaculture sector cannot continue to rely on finite marine stocks for fish oil, there have been several research works within the aquafeed industry to find sustainable alternatives for dietary lipid sources. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a range of inclusion levels of rendered swine fat on the growth performance and liver histology of juvenile Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Fish (initial weight ~ 20 g) were randomly stocked into twelve 1 m³ nylon mesh hapas and fed isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets containing rendered swine fat at varying inclusion levels of 0% (Control), 5% (SF5), 7% (SF7), or 10% (SF10) for 84 days. The control diet contained 5% fish oil as the lipid source. At the end of the trial, there were no significant differences between the final weights of the fish that were fed the control (38.01 ± 0.76) and SF5 diets (37.85 ± 0.68), and both groups recorded significantly higher (P < 0.05) specific growth rates relative to the SF7 and SF10 groups. Specific growth rates ranged from 0.59% day^?1 (SF10) to 0.75% day^?1 (Control and SF5). The fish that were fed the SF7 and SF10 diets had significantly (P < 0.05) larger livers relative to the control and SF5 fish. Histological examination further revealed significant liver alterations in the SF7 and SF10 fish, as evidenced by hepatocyte nuclei migration, hepatic vacuolation, and varying degrees of steatosis. Calculations of profit indices showed that the SF5 diet offers the best economic viability, taking into consideration both the monetary values of fish produced and cost of feed fed over the trial period. The results of this study indicate that rendered swine as a sole lipid source in juvenile Nile tilapia diets can be included at 5% without depressing fish growth.     

Effects of the total fish meal replacement by soybean meal on growth parameters,serum biochemistry,and hepatic and intestinal histology of juvenile blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala)

ABSTRACT

Fish meal is the main protein source in fish diet, but due to its unsustainability, it has to be replaced with more sustainable protein sources, such as soybean meal (SBM), in fish feeds. As SBM often produces negative effects on fish growth and health, we conducted an eight-week trial of complete fish meal replacement with SBM in the diet of juvenile (48.2 ± 0.55 g) blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala), a herbivorous cyprinid fish native to the Yangtze basin (China). SBM-fed fish exhibited: a worsened growth performance; improved survival rate (P > 0.05); elevated serum triglycerides and total cholesterol but reduced low-density lipoprotein in plasma (P < 0.05); mild lipid droplet accumulation and swelling of the liver; elevated goblet cell counts and mild signs of enteritis in the intestines. With negligible effects on growth and mild effects on health, M. amblycephala appears to be comparatively tolerant of SBM, but total fish meal replacement is not recommended. Future studies should aim to identify the SBM tolerance threshold in long-term growth trials.