饥饿及再投喂处理对草鱼生长、葡萄糖代谢和转运蛋白1表达的影响

设置持续投喂组(C,持续投喂8周)、饥饿再投喂组(R,饥饿4周+再投喂4周)和持续饥饿组(S,饥饿8周)3个处理组,研究3种不同饥饿处理对草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)血清生化指标、糖原和糖代谢相关酶和葡萄糖转运蛋白1(GLUT1)的影响,同时在此实验基础上研究草鱼在急性高糖负荷胁迫下的糖耐受能力、糖代谢相关酶和GLUT1的变化规律,旨在阐明草鱼在饥饿及再投喂处理条件下的糖代谢特征。选取初重为(125.35±0.54)g的草鱼,饲养8周后以30 mg/100 g体重的剂量腹腔注射葡萄糖研究其糖耐受能力。结果显示,S组肝糖原和血清的血糖、甘油三酯含量均最低。饥饿处理对草鱼糖耐受能力影响显著,S组血糖含量在各时间点上显著低于其余两组(P0.05),肝糖原在6 h达到峰值;饥饿处理对草鱼肝脏糖代谢关键酶影响显著,饥饿处理(S组)诱使磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸激酶(PEPCK)活性上升但抑制丙酮酸激酶(PK)和果糖-6-磷酸激酶(PFK)的活性(P0.05),而饥饿再投喂(R组)后PEPCK、PK和PFK酶活性恢复到持续投喂(C组)处理水平。注射葡萄糖后S组肝脏GK酶活性增幅最大,PK酶活性呈上升趋势,而R组则呈先下降后上升的趋势;饥饿处理对草鱼肝脏和肌肉GLUT1表达影响显著,注射葡萄糖后,除R组肝脏组织外,其余各组草鱼肝脏和肌肉组织GLUT1表达量均呈先上升后下降的趋势,且S组肌肉GLUT1表达量在各个时间点上均高于其余两组(P0.05)。研究结果表明,在不同饥饿处理下,草鱼可通过消耗肝糖原和甘油三酯及降低肝脏糖酵解相关酶(PK和PFK)活性和促进糖异生PEPCK酶活性来应对饥饿胁迫,而饥饿处理可诱使GK和PK酶活性上升、促进糖原合成和激活GLUT1基因的表达和转运来缓解草鱼急性高糖负荷,从而提高其糖耐受能力。     

饥饿及再投喂处理对草鱼生长、葡萄糖代谢和转运蛋白1表达的影响

本研究设置持续投喂组(C, 持续投喂8周)、饥饿再投喂组(R, 饥饿4周+再投喂4周)和持续饥饿组(S, 饥饿8周)3个处理组, 研究三种不同饥饿处理下草鱼血清生化指标、糖原和糖代谢相关酶和葡萄糖转运蛋白1(GLUT1)的影响, 同时在此实验基础上研究草鱼在急性高糖负荷胁迫下的糖耐受能力、糖代谢相关酶和GLUT1的变化规律, 旨在阐明草鱼在饥饿及再投喂处理条件下的糖代谢特征。选取初重为(125.35±0.54) g的草鱼, 饲养8周后以30 mg/100 g体质量的剂量腹腔注射葡萄糖研究其糖耐受能力。结果显示, S组肝糖原和血清的血糖、甘油三酯含量均最低。饥饿处理对草鱼糖耐受能力影响显著, S组血糖含量在各时间点上显著低于其余两组(Plt;0.05), 肝糖原在6 h达到峰值; 饥饿处理对草鱼肝脏糖代谢关键酶影响显著, 饥饿处理(S组)诱使PEPCK酶活性上升但抑制PK和PFK酶的活性(Plt;0.05), 而饥饿再投喂(R组)后PEPCK、PK和PFK酶活性恢复到持续投喂(C组)处理水平。注射葡萄糖后S组肝脏GK酶活性增幅最大, PK酶活性呈上升趋势, 而R组则呈先下降后上升的趋势; 饥饿处理对草鱼肝脏和肌肉GLUT1表达影响显著, 注射葡萄糖后, 除R组肝脏组织外, 其余各组草鱼肝脏和肌肉组织GLUT1表达量均呈先上升后下降的趋势, 且S组肌肉GLUT1表达量在各个时间点上均高于其余两组(Plt;0.05)。研究结果表明, 在不同饥饿处理下, 草鱼可通过消耗肝糖原和甘油三酯及降低肝脏糖酵解相关酶(PK和PFK)活性和促进糖异生PEPCK酶活性来应对饥饿胁迫, 而饥饿处理可诱使GK和PK酶活性上升、促进糖原合成和激活GLUT1基因的表达和转运来缓解草鱼急性高糖负荷从而提高其糖耐受能力。     

饲料糖水平对不同食性鱼类生长及葡萄糖耐受能力的影响

为研究饲料糖水平对不同食性鱼类生长、血浆生化指标、肝/肌糖原的影响及葡萄糖耐受能力的影响,本实验以不同食性的吉富罗非鱼、卵形鲳鲹和军曹鱼为研究对象,糊精为糖源,三种鱼各设置低、中、高（CL、CM、CH;吉富罗非鱼：20%、30%、40%;卵形鲳鲹：13%、26%、39%;军曹鱼：12%、24%、36%）3个不同饲料糖添加水平,依次为进行8周的饲养实验并进行葡萄糖注射实验。结果显示：饲料中不同糖水平对吉富罗非鱼成活率没有显著影响（P>0.05）;饲料系数随饲料糖水平的升高呈现先下降后升高趋势,以CL组最高（P<0.05）;增重率与特定生长率最高值均出现在CH组中,显著高于CL组（P<0.05）。卵形鲳鲹和军曹鱼CH组存活率均显著低于其他各组（P<0.05）;而增重率与特定生长率则均为CM组显著最高（P<0.05）;三种鱼饲料系数随着饲料糖水平的升高呈现先下降后升高趋势,均以CM组最低,分别为1.47（吉富罗非）、1.61（卵形鲳鲹）和1.49（军曹鱼）。饲料中不同糖水平对不同食性鱼类糖代谢相关生化指标有不同程度的影响。随着饲料中糖水平的上升,罗非鱼CH组糖代谢指标均显著高于其他各组（P<0.05）。卵形鲳鲹和军曹鱼CH组血糖、胰岛素、肝/肌糖原、甘油三酯均为最高;军曹鱼CM组肝/肌糖原和甘油三酯均显著高于其他各组（P<0.05）。葡萄糖耐受实验结果显示注射葡萄糖后：（1）卵形鲳鲹组和罗非鱼组在1 h血糖水平达峰值（P<0.05）,并且均在12 h恢复到注射前水平;而军曹鱼组在3 h达血糖峰值后直至24 h才回到注射前水平。（2）军曹鱼组与罗非鱼组血浆胰岛素水平缓慢上升,至3 h达最高水平（P<0.05）,而卵形鲳鲹组在1 h内显著下降（P<0.05）。（3）卵形鲳鲹组与罗非鱼组肝糖原水平缓慢上升,分别在3 h、6 h达峰值（P<0.05）,而军曹鱼组在1 h内呈下降趋势。（4）罗非鱼组与卵形鲳鲹组甘油三酯水平分别在3 h、6 h达峰值（P<0.05）,而军曹鱼组在1 h内显著下降（P<0.05）。本研究表明,饲料糖水平对对三种食性鱼类生长、糖代谢生化指标、葡萄糖利用和耐受能力具有不同程度的影响,杂食性罗非鱼可比肉食性鱼类更好地利用膳食糖物质。葡萄糖耐受能力则以杂食性吉富罗非鱼为最强,卵形鲳鲹次之,军曹鱼葡萄糖耐受能力最低。     

三种糖源对凡纳滨对虾仔虾期饥饿和补偿生长后营养物质代谢的影响

为了解2种状态(饥饿和复投喂)下投喂3种糖源对凡纳滨对虾仔虾生长、虾体组成成分、代谢指标的影响，实验共5个处理，分别为饥饿组S0、对照组C、实验组S1、S2、S3(在基础饲料中糖源分别为：葡萄糖、蔗糖、玉米淀粉)。实验选取体质量为(1.84±0.23) g的凡纳滨对虾仔虾用方形纱制网兜独立喂养，进行为期12 d的饥饿实验后继续复投喂12 d。结果显示，饥饿后仔虾体组成成分及相关酶[脂肪酶(LPS)、磷酸果糖激酶(PFK)、已糖激酶(HK)、谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)]差异显著；仔虾肝糖原、肌糖原均呈现出反复升降的过程，饥饿8 d后肝糖原降到最低值，肌糖原短暂回升后显著下降。复投喂4 d后S3组增重率最高，实验各组间无显著差异，均低于C组；全虾水分、全虾粗灰分、肌糖原含量无显著差异；S1、S2组虾体粗脂肪含量显著高于S3组；肝糖原、肌糖原均有回升，S1组肝糖原显著低于其他组。复投喂12 d后，S3组LPS活性、HK活性显著高于其他各实验组，GS、PFK含量实验组间无显著差异。研究表明，凡纳滨对虾仔虾饥饿过程中糖原和脂肪先于蛋白质被动用供能；复投喂出现部分补偿生长效应，玉米淀粉作为糖源饲料对凡纳滨对虾仔虾期恢复生长效果最佳。     

高碳水化合物日粮对异育银鲫血浆皮质醇含量和HSP70基因mRNA表达的影响

为了探讨高碳水化合物饲料是否会引起异育银鲫(Carassius auratus gibelio)的应激反应,选用体质量为(35.60±1.11)g的异育银168尾,随机分成2组,一组设为对照组(NS),投喂碳水化合物水平为35％的日粮；另一组设为高碳水化合物实验组(HS),投喂碳水化合物水平为50％的日粮,每组3个重复.在控温的循环水系统中饲养35 d和70 d后,测定异育银鲫血浆皮质醇激素含量及其肝、心脏、脾、肾中HSP70基因mRNA的表达量.结果显示,高碳水化合物实验组35 d时血浆皮质醇激素与对照组相比较显著升高(P＜0.05),肝和心脏HSP70基因mRNA表达较对照组明显增强(P＜0.05)； 70 d时血浆皮质醇激素含量升高,且70 d时高碳水化合物组肝、心脏、脾和肾HSP70基因mRNA表达与对照组相比全部增强.各组饲养70 d后,饥饿24 h后重新投喂的0h、6h、12h、24 h、48 h,高碳水化合物实验组(HS)皮质醇含量在6h、48 h显著高于对照组(P＜0.05),在6h、12h、48 h肝HSP70基因mRNA表达与对照组相比均增强(P＜0.05),说明异育银鲫对50％碳水化合物含量的饲料的耐受性比较差,鱼体产生了应激反应.结果说明,当异育银鲫血清皮质醇激素含量升高时,其肝中HSP70基因mRNA的表达量却降低,反之亦然.本研究旨在为水生动物营养应激及营养免疫的相关研究提供新的思路,为开辟鱼类应激的营养调节提供科学依据.     

饲料中三种不同碳水化合物对大黄鱼生长性能和肝脏糖代谢关键酶活性的影响

为研究饲料中添加3种不同的碳水化合物对大黄鱼生长性能、饲料利用以及糖代谢关键酶活性的影响,进行为期8周的生长实验和持续24 h的饥饿实验。以葡萄糖、小麦淀粉和糊精这3种碳水化合物作为糖源,设计3组等氮等脂(48%粗蛋白和12%粗脂肪)的饲料。选用初始体质量为(8.51±0.02)g的大黄鱼450尾,随机分为3组(每组3个重复,每个重复50尾)。养殖实验结束后进行饥饿实验,分别在饥饿实验开始后的0、1、3、5、7、9、11和24 h取样。结果显示,小麦淀粉组和糊精组大黄鱼的增重率和特定生长率显著高于葡萄糖组,且这2个饲料组的饲料系数显著低于葡萄糖组。糊精组大黄鱼的肝体比显著高于其余2组大黄鱼的肝体比。饲料中添加3种不同碳水化合物对大黄鱼成活率、脏体比和肥满度无显著性影响。葡萄糖组和小麦淀粉组大黄鱼血糖含量在饥饿1 h后都开始显著上升,葡萄糖组高血糖水平持续至少10 h;小麦淀粉组3 h显著下降至初始水平左右,未达到高血糖水平;糊精组大黄鱼血糖含量随着时间的推移持续升高,在11 h达到最大值,高血糖水平持续4 h。饲料中添加3种不同碳水化合物对大黄鱼血清胰岛素和肝糖原含量有显著性影响。小麦淀粉对大黄鱼肝脏葡萄糖激酶(GK)活性的升高有诱导作用。大黄鱼摄食3种不同碳水化合物饲料后鱼体血糖水平升高,但糖异生关键酶如葡萄糖-6-磷酸酶(G6Pase)、果糖-1,6-二磷酸酶(FBPase)和磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧激酶(PEPCK)的活性并不降低。饲料中添加葡萄糖和小麦淀粉对大黄鱼肝脏丙酮酸激酶(PK)活性有显著性影响。研究表明,大黄鱼利用结构复杂的多糖(如小麦淀粉和糊精)的能力要高于单糖(如葡萄糖),3种不同碳水化合物对大黄鱼血糖调节及糖酵解和糖异生途径关键酶活性的影响存在差异。     

周期性“饥饿-再投喂”对大口黑鲈幼鱼补偿生长的影响

在水温(26.5±1.2)℃下,将体质量(45.70±0.56)g的大口黑鲈Micropterus salmoides幼鱼分为4组,饲养在采光大棚内的30m~2水泥池中,每池40尾,D0组每天饱食投喂2次,D1、D2、D3组分别投喂6d、5d、4d,饥饿1d、2d、3d,持续8周,每组3个重复池塘,研究周期性"饥饿-再投喂"对大口黑鲈幼鱼补偿生长的影响。结果发现,随着每周饥饿天数的增加,大口黑鲈的末体质量和增重率均不同程度下降,但D1组与D0组无显著差异(P0.05)。大口黑鲈的日摄食量随饥饿时间的增加而显著提高(P0.05),但各组间无显著差异(P0.05)。D1组的饲料利用效率和蛋白质效率与D0组无显著差异(P0.05);而D2和D3组显著低于D0组(P0.05)。试验结束时,鱼体粗蛋白和粗脂肪含量随饥饿时间增加而下降。D3组鱼的胃和肠道蛋白酶活性显著低于D0组(P0.05);D1组的胃和肠道脂肪酶活性较高;D1和D2组胃淀粉酶活性较高,肠道淀粉酶活性则随着饥饿时间增加显著上升(P0.05)。饥饿使大口黑鲈血清甘油三酯和总胆固醇含量降低,血清谷草转氨酶和谷丙转氨酶活性增加。血清生长激素水平随着饥饿时间增加而上升,类胰岛素生长因子-Ⅰ水平则下降(P0.05)。结果表明:每周投喂6d饥饿1d的大口黑鲈饲料转化效率较高,实现了完全补偿生长,可供集约化养殖的科学投喂参考。     

壳聚糖投喂方式对草鱼抗饥饿胁迫能力的影响

在基础饲料中添加0.5%的壳聚糖,采用3种不同的投喂方式(方式A:连续投喂基础饲料,对照组;方式B:连续投喂添加0.5%壳聚糖的饲料,连续组;方式C:先投喂0.5%壳聚糖饲料再投喂基础饲料且每15天间隔投喂,不连续组)饲喂初始体重(19.46±0.04)g的草鱼60d后,对草鱼进行饥饿胁迫处理[各投喂方式分为投喂组(feeding,F)和饥饿组(starvation,S)],以生长、一氧化氮(nitrogenoxide,NO)含量和溶菌酶(lysozyme,LSZ)活性为指标考察壳聚糖不同投喂方式对草鱼抗饥饿胁迫处理的能力。结果显示,(1)连续组和不连续组60d时草鱼增长率和增重率显著高于对照组(P<0.05),15d饥饿处理后也呈现投喂组和饥饿组的增长率和增重率高于对照组的趋势(P>0.05);(2)对照组头肾、肝胰脏NO含量和血清、头肾溶菌酶活性饥饿组显著高于投喂组(P<0.05),连续组除头肾外NO含量和各组织溶菌酶活性饥饿组显著低于投喂组(P<0.05)或与投喂组无显著差异(P>0.05),不连续组除脾脏外NO含量和除肝胰脏外的溶菌酶活性饥饿组显著低于投喂组(P<0.05)或与投喂组无显著差异(P>0...     

不同投喂模式对奥利亚罗非鱼血液生化指标与生长性能的影响

以奥利亚罗非鱼(Oreochromis aureus)为实验对象,设计了3种不同的投喂模式,分别是鲜活饵料组、饥饿3周后饱食投喂组和人工饲料组。鲜活饵料组投喂冰冻赤子爱胜蚓;饥饿后饱食组是指饥饿3周后,以人工饲料饱食投喂2周;人工饲料组作为对照组。淡水养殖,水温(25±2)℃。研究奥利亚罗非鱼在3种投喂模式下某些血液生理生化指标变化的情况,并将指标变化情况与增重率做相关性分析,试图找出能够反映奥利亚罗非鱼生长性能的血液生理生化指标。研究结果表明,奥利亚罗非鱼在饥饿3周后出现补偿生长,补偿生长时的增重率和特定生长率显著高于人工饲料组(P<0.05),高于鲜活饵料组,但差别不显著;相关性分析研究表明血清总蛋白、胆固醇与增重率极显著相关(P<0.01),血红蛋白与增重率显著相关(P<0.05),其他指标与增重率的相关性无统计学意义,因此,建议将血清总蛋白、胆固醇和血红蛋白作为反映生长性能的新指标。     

饲料中不同种类的碳水化合物对大菱鲆生长性能和代谢反应的影响

为探讨在低蛋白水平(40%)下,饲料中不同种类的碳水化合物(葡萄糖、蔗糖和糊精)对大菱鲆幼鱼[(8.12±0.04)g]生长、成活、饲料利用、体组成和血液生理生化指标等的影响,实验在对照组饲料中未添加可消化碳水化合物,含40%的蛋白质和18%的脂肪,然后在对照组饲料的基础上,调节脂肪水平为12%,分别添加15%的葡萄糖、蔗糖和糊精配制3组实验饲料。在流水式养殖系统中进行9周的大菱鲆生长实验。结果显示,各处理组大菱鲆成活率均高于95.24%,并且各组间无显著差异;对照组和糊精组大菱鲆的增重率(WGR)和特定生长率(SGR)均显著高于葡萄糖组和蔗糖组。各组间的日摄食率(DFI)没有显著差异。对照组和糊精组饲料效率(FE)显著高于蔗糖组,但葡萄糖组FE与其它各组无显著差异;各处理组间蛋白质和脂肪表观消化率(ADC)未受碳水化合物种类的显著影响,而可消化碳水化合物的ADC依次为:葡萄糖组>糊精组>蔗糖组(。葡萄糖组的能量ADC最高,蔗糖组的最低;除对照组肌肉脂肪含量显著高于其它各组外,碳水化合物的种类对大菱鲆肌肉常规组成及糖原含量无显著影响,但显著影响了肝脏的脂肪和糖原含量。大菱鲆肝脏脂肪含量依次为对照组>糊精组>蔗糖组>葡萄糖组,肝脏糖原含量依次为葡萄糖组>蔗糖组>糊精组>对照组;不同碳水化合物种类对大菱鲆幼鱼血浆葡萄糖含量没有显著影响,但显著影响血浆总氨基酸、胰岛素、总胆固醇(CHO)和甘油三酯(TAGs)的含量。结果表明,本实验条件下,大菱鲆对糊精的利用效率优于葡萄糖和蔗糖,并且不同种类的碳水化合物通过糖脂关联代谢等途径对大菱鲆幼鱼的体组成和血液生理生化指标造成一定的影响。     

Growth performance and energetic metabolism of pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887), fed diets supplemented with ammonium metavanadate

Vanadium compounds mimic most of the metabolic effects of insulin, suggesting that it might be useful to improve utilization of dietary carbohydrate. This work evaluated the effect of dietary ammonium metavanadate (H₄NO₃V) on the growth performance and energy metabolism of pacu, an omnivorous South America characin. Two hundred and eighty‐eight fish were distributed into four blocks according to the body weight (21.8±1.7, 28.5±2.0, 28.4±1.9, 35.7±1.9 g), stocked in 24 plastic tanks and fed twice daily with isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets containing six levels of H₄NO₃V (0, 10, 50, 100, 300 and 1000 mg kg^?1) for 60 days. Increasing levels of dietary ammonium metavanadate did not improve growth (P>0.05), and the highest level of inclusion (1000 mg kg^?1) reduced performance (P<0.05). Blood glucose levels decreased (P<0.05) in fish fed 300 and 1000 mg kg^?1 H₄NO₃V, but no differences were observed in other blood metabolites. A slight increase in muscle lipid content was observed in fish fed a diet containing 300 mg kg^?1 H₄NO₃V. Based on the results of this study, there is no benefit in supplementing pacu diets with metavanadate.     

Changes to the histological gill structure and haemolymph composition of early blue swimmer crab Portunus pelagicus juveniles during elevated ammonia‐N exposure and the post‐exposure recovery

It is yet unclear whether sub‐lethal ammonia‐N levels cause irreparable damage to aquatic crustaceans, or if recovery is possible, the potential factors involved. The aim was to investigate the effect of 0.706 and 2.798 mmol L^?1 ammonia‐N exposure on the haemolymph osmolality, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, pH, ammonia‐N, total haemocyte counts (THC) and gill histopathology of Portunus pelagicus juveniles at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h respectively. Following 48 h, crabs were transferred to pristine seawater allowing a recovery period up to 96 h and similarly measured. In addition moribund crabs, induced from lethal ammonia‐N levels of 7.036 and 10.518 mmol L^?1, were measured for haemolymph osmolality/ions and pH levels. The results demonstrate that despite severe gill damage within 6‐ and 1 h of 0.706 and 2.798 mmol L^?1 ammonia‐N exposure, respectively, no significant change (P>0.05) in the haemolymph osmolality, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ or pH levels occurred or by ammonia‐N‐induced morbidity. Although the gills can completely recover within 24 and 48 h post exposure to 0.706 and 2.798 mmol L^?1 ammonia‐N, respectively, likely facilitated by significant haemocyte increases (P<0.05) within the haemolymph and gill lamellae, dependent factors were the previous ammonia‐N concentration and recovery duration while individual variability was also noticed.     

Response of facilitative glucose transporter 1 to salinity stress and dietary carbohydrate nutrition in white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Facilitative glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) is a transporter protein for glucose transport via the plasma membrane of the cells to provide energy through carbohydrate metabolism. GLUT1 cDNA from Litopenaeus vannamei was obtained and analysed in this study. Full‐length GLUT1 cDNA is 2062 bp long and contained a 1506‐bp ORF encoding a 502 amino acid protein, a 270‐bp 5′UTR and a 284‐bp 3′UTR. When shrimp were under acute low salinity stress, the expression in hepatopancreas, muscle, gill and eyestalk was all up‐regulated at 12 h (P < 0.05) and 96 h (P < 0.05), while the expression in the four tissues was all down‐regulated at 6 h (P < 0.05) and 48 h (P < 0.05) . The expression in the muscle of shrimp at water salinity of 3 was lower than that at water salinity of 30 independent of dietary carbohydrate levels, while expression in hepatopancreas, gill and eyestalk was up‐regulated at 200 and 300 g kg^?1 carbohydrate levels. The expression in all tissues fed glucose was up‐regulated when compared to the expression in shrimp held at a water salinity of 30. This study suggests that GLUT1 is a conserved protein in L. vannamei, and changes in expression due to environmental salinity and dietary carbohydrate level and source.     

Does oral 3,5,3 ′-triiodo-l-thyronine affect dietary glucose utilization and plasma insulin levels in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)?

A factorial experiment was conducted to determine the effect and interaction of dietary carbohydrate level and triiodo-L-thyronine (T₃) supplementation on the growth, physiological response and plasma insulin and cortisol levels of rainbow trout. The oral administration of T₃ significantly increased the growth, protein efficiency ratio and feed efficiency of trout, indicating an increased protein and perhaps energy utilization in these fish. However, T, administration did not significantly increase the utilization of dietary glucose as an energy source by the trout. Similarly, the administration of T₃ did not significantly affect plasma insulin levels in either the fed or the fasted trout. Plasma insulin levels were significantly higher in fed trout reared on the non-T₃ supplemented high carbohydrate diet in comparison to trout reared on the low carbohydrate diets. This indicates that increased dietary carbohydrate stimulates increased insulin secretion in the trout. Therefore, although rainbow trout are not insulin-deficient, they can still be considered a diabetic-like animal due to their poor glucose tolerance. Plasma cortisol levels were not affected by diet composition and altered plasma glucose levels.     

Carbohydrate utilization by juvenile silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell). I. Uptake and clearance of monosaccharides following intraperitoneal injection

Abstract Intraperitoneal carbohydrate tolerance tests were done to assess the ability of silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus, to utilize the predominant monosaccharides in plant ingredients currently being used in the formulation of aquaculture feeds for this species. Preliminary experiments carried out to assess baseline plasma glucose concentrations indicated that blood glucose levels were elevated within 2 min of handling and silver perch required a period of 48 h without feeding before plasma glucose levels remained constant. In the first carbohydrate test, either glucose, galactose or xylose were administered by injection into the intraperitoneal cavity at a dose rate of 1 g carbohydrate kg^?1 body weight (BW). In the second carbohydrate test, glucose was administered at a dose rate of either 2 or 4 g glucose kg BW^?1. Following injection, uptake and clearance rate of the carbohydrates from the blood stream was monitored over a 24‐h period. Silver perch were significantly more efficient at the uptake and clearance of glucose from the blood stream than xylose or galactose. Maximum plasma glucose concentrations (22.2 mmol L ^?1) were recorded at 1 h following injection and basal levels (3.44 mm ) were attained between 6 and 12 h following injection. For both galactose and xylose, maximum concentrations were recorded at 1 and 3 h, respectively, and concentrations of both monosaccharides remained significantly elevated 24 h after the administration. Plasma glucose concentrations of silver perch administered with either 2 or 4 g glucose kg BW^?1 were significantly elevated and peaked at similar levels (30.2 mmol L ^?1 and 30.7 mmol L ^?1 respectively) 3 h after injection. Basal plasma glucose concentrations were attained in silver perch injected with 2 g glucose kg BW^?1 at 24 h following administration. Plasma glucose concentrations remained significantly elevated in fish injected with 4 g glucose kg BW^?1 after 24 h. These findings indicate that silver perch are more efficient at utilizing glucose than either xylose or galactose, and that there are also differing maximum threshold for the inclusion of ingredients rich in glucose, galactose and xylose into the diets of silver perch.     

Natural Stable Isotopes for Determination of Gastrointestinal Transit Time in Fish

This study evaluated the application of stable isotopes of carbon as an alternative and more accurate method to determine gastrointestinal transit time (GTT) in fish by comparing it to the inert marker method. The stable isotope method detects alterations of the normal carbon flow in a biological system by analyzing naturally occurring isotopes of carbon, contrary to studies based on conventional techniques that apply external markers to the diet to determine GTT through visual observation of the color change in feces. Therefore, 320 pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus juveniles were reared in 32 tanks under two different temperatures (25 and 29 C). The pacu juveniles received two different diets, one based on ingredients derived from C₃ photosynthetic cycle plants and the other based on C₄ plant ingredients, both containing titanium oxide (TiO₂) as a marker. After 40 d, the isotopic signature of the diets was changed, and the marker was replaced by chromic oxide (Cr₂O₃). In the isotopic technique, the feces were analyzed to determine the exchange in the isotopic ratio of carbon δ¹³C. Both methods found that GTT was faster (nearly 6 h) in fish at 29 C when using the C₄/C₃ feeding strategy and slower in fish at 25 C using the C₃/C₄ strategy (15 h by inert marker and 18 h by the isotopic method). In conclusion, GTT determination in pacu juveniles using the stable isotope technique exhibits the same accuracy obtained with the inert marker method at temperatures suitable (nearly 29 C) for the metabolism of these animals.     

Growth and feed utilisation of rainbow trout subjected to changes in feed lipid concentrations

Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss grew from 44 to 326 g in 96days when held at 12 °C. Fish were fed to satiation twice dailywith either high (L₁: 30.8%, L₂:31.4%) or lower-lipid feeds (C₁: 18.8%,C₂: 21.8%). Four feeding treatments were studied.Group C₁C₂ received feed C₁ for 43 days(days 0–43) and C₂ thereafter (days 44–96).Groups L₁L₂, L₁C₂ andC₁L₂ were subjected to dietary changes asindicated by the feed designations. After a short period of feedadaptation, fish ingested similar amounts of feed energy i.e., they ateless by weight of the lipid-rich (L) feeds. Feed lipid content did notaffect growth but fish fed L-feed had reduced feed conversion ratio(FCR) compared to fish fed C-feed (0.731 vs. 0.773) during days0–43 (P < 0.01). After 96 days,L₁L₂-fish were lower in body protein(15.8%) than the C₁C₂-fish (16.8%)(P < 0.01). L-feeds also tended to increase percentage lipidand reduce percentage whole body moisture and ash. A higher net proteinutilisation (NPU) was recorded in fish fed L-feeds (43.6%)compared to fish fed C-feeds (38.8%) in days 0–43(P < 0.05). This seemed to be the result of a lower proteinintake rather than a protein-sparing effect of feed lipid. Above athreshold value of approximately 6.5 mg protein eaten·g bodywt_{minus 1}·day_–1, NPU decreased.     

Transport of juvenile dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus under different packing densities: Metabolic and haematological responses

The aim of this study was to investigate a suitable packing density for the transport of juvenile dusky grouper, Epinephelus marginatus, based on the evaluation of stress responses in blood. After acclimation, fish were placed in plastic bags and transported for 8 hr on paved road at densities of 28, 45 and 64 g/L. Water quality was monitored before and after transport. Blood was collected before, upon arrival (0 hr), after 2 and 24 hr of transport. Plasma cortisol, blood glucose, partial pressures of O₂ (pO₂) and CO₂ (pCO₂), blood pH and HCO₃^? were evaluated. Blood smears were prepared for the verification of leucocyte profile and neutrophils:lymphocyte ratio (N:L). Blood pCO₂, pH and HCO₃^? increased significantly after transport for all treatments compared with pre‐transport. Glucose levels increased at the higher density whereas no effects were observed on plasma cortisol and pO₂ levels. Upon arrival, all treatments showed lymphopenia and neutrophilia which increased N:L ratio. Although lymphopenia was observed in higher densities until 2 hr after transport, haematological parameters were fully restored within 24 hr post transport. Furthermore, no mortalities were observed throughout the experimental period. Based on the transient physiological changes observed in this study, juvenile dusky grouper can be safely transported in plastic bags for 8 hr at a density of up to 64 g/L.