一株芽孢杆菌的分离、鉴定及其对仿刺参免疫的影响

从大连湾地区健康的刺参养殖池塘沉积物中分离出一株优势菌株B4,通过菌落特征、生理生化特性和16SrDNA同源性分析,确定菌株B4为芽孢杆菌属。该菌株在温度20~35℃,pH 6~9,盐度3~7.5下生长良好。采用108cfu/mL密度的B4菌液投喂仿刺参,投喂后第0、7、14、21d和第28d测定仿刺参体腔液中酸性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶、超氧化物歧化酶、溶菌酶和酚氧化酶的活性。试验结果表明,第7d时,试验组仿刺参腔液中碱性磷酸酶、超氧化物歧化酶和酚氧化酶的活性显著高于对照组(P0.05);第21d时,试验组仿刺参腔液中溶菌酶的活性显著高于对照组;第28d时,酸性磷酸酶的活性与对照组具有极显著差异(P0.01),说明B4可提高仿刺参体腔液中酸性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶、超氧化物歧化酶、溶菌酶和酚氧化酶5种免疫酶的活性,对仿刺参有一定的免疫刺激作用。     

低盐急性胁迫对仿刺参相关生理指标的影响

通过模拟仿刺参养殖池塘雨季的盐度变化,选用2龄仿刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)为研究对象,刺参体重(16.93±3.08)g,研究盐度骤降及胁迫恢复对仿刺参体腔液相关生理指标的影响。盐度先由30以每6 h变化3个盐度的速度下降至18,然后在盐度18保持96 h,随后盐度以相同速度上升恢复至30,并保持24 h。结果显示,各盐度取样点间仿刺参体腔液渗透压、体腔液总蛋白浓度、Na+、K+、Cl–浓度与盐度的变化趋势一致,Na+、K+、Cl–浓度均在盐度下降到18时达到最低值,分别为(131.15±14.42)mmol/L,(6.08±0.24)mmol/L和(141.76±2.13)mmol/L;而Ca2+浓度一直呈上升趋势。体腔液中Na+-K+-ATP酶活力在盐度18并保持4 d后显著高于其他组(P0.05),盐度对其体腔液中Na+-K+-ATP酶活力的影响与体腔液渗透压变化趋势不一致。盐度胁迫对谷丙转氨酶活力无显著影响。结果表明,盐度胁迫对仿刺参渗透调节能力有显著影响,实验中体腔液渗透压与体腔液Na+、K+、Cl–浓度有一定的相关性。盐度胁迫对仿刺参的呼吸代谢产生的影响不显著。研究结果为丰富仿刺参适应环境盐度的机制提供基础资料,为进一步了解盐度胁迫下刺参的生理生态学特征以及今后的刺参增养殖生产提供参考。     

两株芽孢杆菌的生长特性及其对仿刺参的益生作用

本实验室前期从大连湾地区健康的仿刺参养殖池塘沉积物中分离出两株芽孢杆菌即B6和B7。首先,通过分析二者的生长特性发现,B6和B7的最适生长温度为15~35℃;最适pH范围为6~8;最适盐度为3%~5%。菌株产酶特性检测结果表明,B6和B7均可产生淀粉酶和蛋白酶,B7产脂肪酶。将两种菌悬液投喂仿刺参后发现,B6和B7可有效提高仿刺参肠道内的消化酶活性以及体腔液中多种非特异性免疫酶活性。本研究结果表明:B6和B7可作为益生菌剂的基础菌株添加至仿刺参生长环境中,并且对仿刺参的消化及免疫功能具有正向刺激作用。     

不同分子量壳聚糖对刺参(Apostichopus japonicus Selenka)生长和免疫功能的影响

以初始体重为(6.77±0.01)g的仿刺参(Apostichopus japonicus Selenka)为实验对象,在基础饲料中添加1％不同分子量的壳聚糖,分子量分别为35 kDa和400 kDa,进行为期56d的养殖实验,研究低分子壳聚糖(LMWC)和高分子壳聚糖(HMWC)对仿刺参生长和免疫相关酶活性的影响.结果显示,不同分子量的壳聚糖对仿刺参的生长均有促进作用,且LMWC能显著促进刺参的特定生长率(SGR)(P＜0.05).饲料中添加不同分子量壳聚糖,刺参体腔细胞中的总超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)活性比对照组均显著增高(P＜0.05).LMWC可显著增强刺参体腔细胞中酸性磷酸酶(ACP)活性(P＜0.05),并能提高碱性磷酸酶(AKP)和一氧化氮合酶(NOS)活性.HMWC对刺参体腔细胞中AKP和NOS活性均有显著增强作用(P＜0.05).研究表明,在刺参饲料中添加一定量的壳聚糖,对其生长和相关免疫酶活性有促进作用.     

不同分子量壳聚糖对刺参(Apostichopus japonicus Selenka)生长和免疫功能的影响

以初始体重为(6.77±0.01)g的仿刺参(Apostichopus japonicus Selenka)为实验对象,在基础饲料中添加1%不同分子量的壳聚糖,分子量分别为35 k Da和400 k Da,进行为期56 d的养殖实验,研究低分子壳聚糖(LMWC)和高分子壳聚糖(HMWC)对仿刺参生长和免疫相关酶活性的影响。结果显示,不同分子量的壳聚糖对仿刺参的生长均有促进作用,且LMWC能显著促进刺参的特定生长率(SGR)(P0.05)。饲料中添加不同分子量壳聚糖,刺参体腔细胞中的总超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)活性比对照组均显著增高(P0.05)。LMWC可显著增强刺参体腔细胞中酸性磷酸酶(ACP)活性(P0.05),并能提高碱性磷酸酶(AKP)和一氧化氮合酶(NOS)活性。HMWC对刺参体腔细胞中AKP和NOS活性均有显著增强作用(P0.05)。研究表明,在刺参饲料中添加一定量的壳聚糖,对其生长和相关免疫酶活性有促进作用。     

饲料中添加浒苔对仿刺参幼参生长、消化酶活性和免疫力的影响

在水温17~18℃和盐度30条件下,将初始体质量为(4.09±0.26)g的仿刺参饲养在15个循环水玻璃缸(容积100L)中,投喂在基础饲料中添加0%、3%、6%、9%和12%浒苔的饲料,于投喂后第7、14、28d和42d分别检测仿刺参的生长指标、消化酶(蛋白酶、淀粉酶、纤维素酶和褐藻酸酶)和体腔液免疫酶(溶菌酶、酸性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶和超氧化物歧化酶)的活性。试验结果表明,投喂试验饲料后第14、28d和42d:(1)饲料中添加6%和9%浒苔组仿刺参的特定生长率显著增加(P0.05),在不同取样时间其他添加组仿刺参的的特定生长率与对照组差异不显著(P0.05);(2)饲料中浒苔添加量为6%和9%试验组仿刺参的4种消化酶比活力显著高于对照组(P0.05),其中6%组仿刺参的消化酶比活力最高;(3)饲料中浒苔添加量为6%时,仿刺参溶菌酶活力显著高于对照组及其他试验组(P0.05);饲料中浒苔添加量为6%和9%时,仿刺参碱性磷酸酶活力和超氧化物歧化酶活力显著高于对照组及其他试验组(P0.05);添加浒苔可以显著提高酸性磷酸酶活力,至第42d,试验组酸性磷酸酶活力高于对照组(P0.05),且浒苔添加量为6%时活力最高。在本试验条件下,饲料中添加浒苔可以提高仿刺参的特定生长率、消化酶活力及免疫力,浒苔的最适添加量为6%~9%。     

枯草芽孢杆菌B2的生长及其对仿刺参的益生特性

从大连湾地区健康的仿刺参养殖池塘沉积物中分离得到一株芽孢杆菌菌株B2,经16SrDNA鉴定以及形态学分析确定其为枯草芽孢杆菌。该菌株生长适宜温度为15~35℃,适宜pH为6~8,适宜盐度为30~50。电镜观察发现,枯草芽孢杆菌B2周围有明显可见的芽孢。枯草芽孢杆菌B2可产淀粉酶和蛋白酶,但不具有产脂肪酶的能力。将枯草芽孢杆菌B2按照仿刺参体质量的0.1%、0.2%和0.3%配成不同密度的菌液,添加至饲料中,投喂7d后发现,该菌株可有效提高仿刺参肠道内的消化酶以及体腔液中多种非特异性免疫酶的活性。结果表明,枯草芽孢杆菌B2可作为益生菌剂的基础菌株添加至仿刺参饲料中。     

刺参体腔液穿刺抽取后细胞恢复过程的初步研究

通过所绘制的刺参沥水后体质量变化曲线得出,在气温20℃以下,刺参沥水后20～30min为测量刺参体质量的最佳时机。利用重量差值法得出刺参体腔液占体质量的百分比分别是:小参26.88±1.39%、中参25.24±2.91%、大参30.98±1.86%。通过检测刺参体腔液抽取后刺参生理状态的变化得出刺参体腔液单次安全抽取量为体质量的1.5%以内。通过检测单次抽取刺参体腔液后其体腔液中总细胞、透明细胞及淋巴样细胞和颗粒细胞数量的恢复过程得出,刺参不同类型的体腔细胞在受抽取刺激后恢复过程也不是同步进行的,体腔液总细胞浓度恢复时间间隔为4d,颗粒细胞、透明细胞及淋巴样细胞浓度恢复时间间隔为6d,体腔液吸光值恢复时间间隔为5d,由此得出,在进行多次抽取体腔液时建议至少间隔6d以上。研究建立的刺参体质量测量方法和所确定刺参体腔液基础指标为进一步开展刺参免疫学、生理学、动物学试验等研究提供参考和基础性数据。     

不同病原菌刺激后仿刺参幼参体腔细胞中免疫相关酶的应答变化

给体质量(6.4±1.1)g的仿刺参体腔注射10~0μL灿烂弧菌、假交替单胞菌、希瓦氏菌和蜡样芽孢杆菌(细菌终密度为10~7~10~8 cfu/mL),以体腔注射10~0μL无菌海水的仿刺参作对照组,注射后0、4、12、24、48、72h和96h取样测定了体腔细胞中酸性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶、超氧化物歧化酶和酚氧化酶的活力。结果显示,蜡样芽孢杆菌刺激12h后仿刺参体腔细胞中的酸性磷酸酶活力均高于对照组,其余3种病原菌刺激后的12h也显著高于对照组(P0.05);在试验菌株刺激后的各个时间点体腔细胞中酚氧化酶活力均低于对照组;在4种病原菌刺激后4h和12h体腔细胞中过氧化氢酶和碱性磷酸酶活力均显著高于对照组(P0.05);希瓦氏菌刺激后体腔细胞中超氧化物歧化酶活力始终低于对照组。研究结果表明,仿刺参体腔细胞对病原菌的刺激在短时间内有较强的应激防御反应;仿刺参体腔细胞中的酸性磷酸酶可能在应对革兰氏阳性菌的入侵中发挥重要免疫作用;超氧化物歧化酶受到希瓦氏菌的抑制,酚氧化酶对4种病原菌无法产生有效的免疫应答,这可能是4种病原菌导致仿刺参发病的原因之一。     

四种不同添加物对仿刺参非特异性免疫力和肠道免疫基因Aj-p105、Aj-p50、Aj-rel和Aj-lysmRNA表达的影响

本实验研究了饲料中添加酵母多糖(6.3 g/kg)、马氏副球菌(109 cfu/kg)、大黄(25.0 g/kg)和氟苯尼考(15.0 mg/kg)4种添加物对仿刺参[初始体质量(4.68±0.36)g]非特异性免疫力以及肠道组织免疫相关基因Aj-p105、Aj-p50、Aj-rel和Aj-lys mRNA表达的影响.每个处理分别设置5个重复,以投喂未添加上述任何成份的基础饲料组作为空白对照,养殖实验周期为60 d.结果发现,饲料中添加马氏副球菌能显著提高仿刺参体腔细胞的吞噬活性和呼吸爆发活力,而添加酵母多糖可以显著提高仿刺参体腔细胞的吞噬能力,但是添加氟苯尼考显著降低了仿刺参体腔细胞的呼吸爆发活力;而在仿刺参中肠肠道组织中,酵母多糖和马氏副球菌处理组免疫基因Aj-p105和j-p50 mRNA的表达均大幅上调,显著高于对照组.其中,酵母多糖添加组增幅分别为43.2％和63.1％,马氏副球菌添加组的增幅分别为49.8％和48.0％.马氏副球菌添加组中免疫基因Aj-lys的表达显著高于对照组,增幅为46.4％;大黄添加组中Aj-p105 mRNA的表达量显著高于对照组,而氟苯尼考添加组中Aj-p50、Aj-rel和Aj-lys的mRNA表达量相对于对照组均显著下降.研究表明,饲料中适当添加酵母多糖和马氏副球菌可有效提高仿刺参非特异性免疫力,而饲料中抗生素氟苯尼考的添加会降低仿刺参非特异性免疫力.     

Quality evaluation of indoor‐ and outdoor‐cultured sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) seedlings: Insight from survival and immune performance in response to combined stress of hyperthermia and hyposalinity

The mass mortalities of sea cucumber Apostichpous japonicus have prevailed in northern China, mainly attributing to the emergence of extreme environmental conditions, that is hyperthermia and hyposalinity. The high‐quality sea cucumber seedlings appear to possess more robust resistance to adverse conditions. There are usually indoor‐ and outdoor‐cultured seedlings in industrial production of sea cucumbers. Although the outdoor‐cultured sea cucumbers are practically considered to be more strong and robust, the effective evaluation approach to distinguish these seedlings has been scarce. The current study compared survival and immune performances of indoor‐ and outdoor‐cultured A. japonicus under combined exogenous stressors, that is hyperthermia and hyposalinity. Results based on secondary stress induction revealed that the activities of immune enzymes and levels of catecholamines in body wall of outdoor‐cultured seedlings were prominently higher than those of indoor‐cultured seedlings recovered for 0–72 hr following sublethal stress (30°C and 25 psu of salinity). The opposite case occurred on immune enzymes in coelomic fluid of the two sources of seedlings except for myeloperoxidase. Importantly, the outdoor‐cultured seedlings, which were recovered for 72 hr after sublethal stress, exhibited a 93% of cumulative survival rate following 7 days of recovery after lethal stress (33°C and 20 psu of salinity), 27% higher than the indoor‐cultured seedlings. Collectively, the outdoor‐cultured A. japonicus seedlings showed more superior quality than the hatchery‐produced seedlings in terms of survival and immune performance. These findings provide practically useful information towards quality distinction of the indoor‐ and outdoor‐cultured sea cucumbers, which could benefit the aquaculture industry to obtain high‐quality seedlings.     

饲料中间隔添加壳寡糖对仿刺参生长、非特异性免疫和抗病力的影响

壳寡糖是良好的免疫增强剂,但在水生动物的应用还十分有限。本研究通过间隔投喂方式研究壳寡糖对仿刺参生长性能、非特异性免疫能力、消化能力、组织学和抗病力的影响。实验挑选体质量(18.51 ± 0.28)g仿刺参,对照组饲喂基础饲料,实验组以3天1次的饲喂频率饲喂含0.5%的壳寡糖饲料,其余时间饲喂基础饲料,进行8周的养殖试验后,测定该饲喂方式下仿刺参的生长性能、非特异性免疫能力、肠道消化酶、肠道和呼吸树组织学以及对灿烂弧菌的抗病力。结果显示,3天1次的饲喂频率下,仿刺参特定生长率和存活率几乎未受影响,但显著提高了脏壁比和肠壁比(P < 0.05);在免疫指标方面,显著提高了仿刺参体腔细胞的吞噬活性和呼吸爆发能力(P < 0.05),以及体腔细胞和肠道的酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)、溶菌酶(LZM)和总一氧化氮合酶(T-NOS)的活性(P < 0.05),其中肠道AKP和LZM活性分别提高了70.06%和156%,且acp、akp、lzm基因表达量显著提高(P < 0.05),其中肠道akp和lzm基因表达量分别提高了13.47%和22.36%;抗氧化指标结果显示,显著提高了仿刺参体腔细胞过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性(P < 0.05),而体腔细胞和肠道的丙二醛(MDA)含量无显著差异(P > 0.05);组织学结果显示,该饲喂频率显著提高了前肠肌肉层厚度和浆膜层厚度,中肠和后肠的皱襞高度和宽度;灿烂弧菌(Vibrio splendidus)攻毒结果显示,实验组仿刺参的相对保护率达到66.67%。综上,3天1次的饲喂频率能够一定程度上提高仿刺参的生长性能,非特异性免疫酶活性,明显改善肠道结构,研究结果可为壳寡糖对仿刺参作用机制的研究及投喂频率的确定提供数据支撑和理论依据。     

饥饿胁迫对刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)免疫和生长的影响

为了探究饥饿胁迫对刺参免疫和生长的影响,在11?13℃条件下,研究体质量为(20±0.15) g的刺参在不同时间(0、10、20、30、40、50、60 d),饥饿胁迫对体腔液中酸性磷酸酶(ACP)活性、溶菌酶(LZM)活性、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、呼吸爆发(RB)活性、吞噬活性以及对刺参体质量、脏壁比、存活率的影响。研究结果表明,随着饥饿时间的延长,刺参体腔液中的ACP活性、LZM活性呈现降低的趋势,饥饿60 d后,比初始值分别下降47.06%、17.57%;SOD活性、RB活性和吞噬活性呈现出先上升后下降的趋势,分别在饥饿胁迫第20、20、10天时达到最高值依次为32.88、0.328、1.35 U/ml,其后显著下降,第60天时显著低于初始值,分别下降27.87%、38.08%、53.43%;其体质量在第60天时为初始体质量的68.08%,呈现负生长;脏壁比逐渐增大,第60天时为0.56,显著高于初始值0.44 (P<0.05)。随着存储营养物质的消耗,刺参体质量损失率增加,存活率下降,存活率与体质量损失率之间存在着y = ?0.0354x2+0.4354x 99.117的函数关系,呈二次曲线线性负相关。研究结果显示,饥饿时刺参通过消耗体内的营养物质来满足机体需要,长期的饥饿有可能降低刺参的免疫能力,直接影响刺参的健康和生长。     

Effects of continuous and alternate administration of β‐glucan and mannan‐oligosaccharide on the growth,immunity and resistance against Vibrio splendidus of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka)

A 4‐week growth trial was conducted to compare the effects of different feeding strategies of dietary immunostimulants on the growth, immunity and resistance against Vibrio splendidus of sea cucumbers Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka). Six feeding strategies were set, including feeding immunostimulants‐free diet continuously (control), feeding dietary β‐glucan (1.25 g kg^?1 diet) continuously, feeding dietary mannan‐oligosaccharides (MOS; 2.00 g kg^?1 diet) continuously, feeding β‐glucan 2 days followed by MOS 5 days alternately, feeding β‐glucan 5 days followed by MOS 2 days alternately and feeding β‐glucan 7 days followed by MOS 7 days alternately. The sea cucumbers fed immunostimulants showed higher specific growth rate (SGR) and lower cumulative mortality than control (P < 0.05). When sea cucumbers were fed with β‐glucan continuously, total coelomocytes counts and superoxide anion were significantly higher than control on the 4th day (P < 0.05). However, these two immune parameters were not significantly higher than those in control after the 18th day (P > 0.05). While sea cucumbers continuously fed MOS, these two immune parameters were not significantly higher than control until the 15th day. All immune parameters of the sea cucumbers fed with β‐glucan and MOS alternately were significantly higher than those in control during the experiment (P < 0.05). The sea cucumbers fed with β‐glucan 7 days followed MOS 7 days alternately showed the highest SGR and second lowest cumulative mortality. It was suggested that this feeding strategy is most suitable for sea cucumbers.     

Immune responses of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus to stress in two different transport systems

We report the effect of transport stress on the immune responses of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. The total coelomocytes counts, phagocytosis activity, reactive oxygen species production, acid phosphatase activity, phenoloxidase activity and catecholamine levels were measured in A. japonicus following both damp and water transportation methods. With both transport methods, stress resulted in significant elevation of catecholamine levels. Total coelomocytes counts increased following transportation, whereas phagocytic activity and reactive oxygen species production decreased. Damp transport significantly depressed acid phosphatase and phenoloxidase activity in A. japonicus. However, there were no significant differences in acid phosphatase and phenoloxidase activity after water transportation. These results show that transport stress induces modifications in the immune system of A. japonicus and that damp transport elicited more severe stress than water transport. This study increased understanding of the mechanism of transport stress inducing neuroendocrine responses and immune modification in A. japonicus. The information obtained should be helpful to optimize transport process in sea cucumber culture.     

池塘养殖刺参腐皮综合征发病环境因素分析

通过对2014年7—8月山东省青岛市红岛邵哥庄(SGZ)和宿流(SL)两个社区的发生刺参腐皮综合征和未发病刺参养殖池的环境因子跟踪监测和对比,解析发病的原因。从发病前至发病后,分别监测了两地多个池塘水体中的4类可培养细菌(总异养菌、弧菌、硝化细菌和硫化细菌)和6项理化参数(温度、p H、盐度、溶解氧、无机氮、COD),以及沉积环境中6类可培养细菌(总异养菌、弧菌、硝化细菌、硝酸盐还原菌、硫化细菌、硫酸盐还原菌)和4项理化参数(pH、氧化还原电位、硫化物、有机碳)。结果表明,刺参发病时,邵哥庄发病池(SGZ-1~#)环境中细菌数量与未发病对照池(SGZ-2~#)无显著差异,但温度高达25.94℃,盐度低至24.47,均超过刺参耐受限度。水体NO_2-N含量为79.56μg/L,沉积物中硫化物含量为221.1 mg/g,均高于对照池;宿流发病池SL-南2弧菌数量(1.85×10~4 CFU/mL)在发病当日明显升高,高于对照池SL-北1和邵哥庄社区的发病池,而发病池的理化指标反而好于对照池。由此推断,邵哥庄社区的刺参发病与池塘理化指标突变有密切关系,而宿流的刺参发病与病原菌数量激增有密切关系。因此,应从理化指标和病害生物两方面对刺参病害进行预警及采取防治措施。     

Large‐scale mortality and limited expression of heat shock proteins of aestivating sea cucumbers Apostichopus japonicus after acute salinity decrease

This study deals with the mortality and related physiological responses of aestivating sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus to acute salinity decrease. Aestivating and active sea cucumbers were exposed to a decrease in salinity (from 30 to 20 psu) at a rate of 2.5 psu every 6 h, and then maintained at 20 psu for 96 h. The mortality of aestivating sea cucumbers was ~30%, which was significantly higher than that of active sea cucumbers (~10%). This result indicated that sea cucumbers in aestivation were more susceptible to hypo‐salinity stress. To elucidate the underlying physiological mechanisms, the osmotic pressure in coelomic fluid and the levels of hsp70 and hsp90 mRNA in aestivating and active sea cucumbers were measured. No significant difference in osmoregulation was observed between the two groups. The osmotic pressure of coelomic fluid in both groups changed with decrease in ambient salinity. There were significant differences in the time course and magnitude of hsp70 and hsp90 expression between the two groups. After exposure to decreased salinity, aestivating sea cucumbers showed a delayed up‐regulation of hsp70 and hsp90 expression compared with animals in active state, and these levels decreased rapidly to control values. The expression of hsp70 and hsp90 in aestivating sea cucumbers were significantly lower than those in active sea cucumbers after salinity change. The differences in hsp70 and hsp90 expression between the states may partly explain the higher mortality of sea cucumbers in aestivation when exposed to low salinity.     

Optimum Level of Dietary n‐3 Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids for Juvenile Sea Cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus

A feeding trial was conducted to estimate the optimum level of dietary n‐3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) for juvenile sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicas, based on growth performance and fatty acid compositions. Diets with five n‐3 HUFAs levels (0.15, 0.22, 0.33, 0.38, and 0.46%) were fed to sea cucumber juveniles (1.97 ± 0.01 g) once a day for 60 d. The sea cucumbers fed diets containing 0.22% n‐3 HUFAs showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher body weight gain, feed efficiency, and protein efficiency ratio than the sea cucumbers fed diets containing 0.15% n‐3 HUFAs, but not significantly different (P > 0.05) from those of sea cucumbers fed diets containing 0.33, 0.38, and 0.46% n‐3 HUFAs. The sea cucumbers fed diets containing 0.46% n‐3 HUFAs showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher eicosapentaenoic acid and saturated fatty acid than the sea cucumber fed diets containing 0.15% n‐3 HUFAs, but not significantly different (P > 0.05) from those of sea cucumbers fed diets containing 0.22, 0.33, and 0.38% n‐3 HUFAs. The results of growth performance and n‐3 HUFA compositions of body wall indicated that the optimum level of dietary n‐3 HUFAs for juvenile sea cucumber is between 0.22 and 0.46%.