Effect of dietary sodium butyrate on growth performance,enzyme activities and intestinal proliferation‐related gene expression of juvenile golden pompano Trachinotus ovatus

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary sodium butyrate on growth performance, intestine enzyme activities and intestinal proliferation‐related gene expression of juvenile golden pompano Trachinotus ovatus. A basal diet was supplemented with sodium butyrate at 0.0 (control), 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 g/kg feed for 8 weeks. The final body weight, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR) and condition factor (CF) increased with increasing dietary sodium butyrate up to 2.0 g/kg, and thereafter declined, while feed conversion ratio exhibited an opposite trend. Compared with the control, the 2.0 g/kg sodium butyrate group had higher condition factor (CF) significantly (p < 0.05). Whole body ash decreased with increasing dietary sodium butyrate level, with the lowest whole body ash content in 4.0 g/kg sodium butyrate (p < 0.05). Compared with the control, the 2.0 g/kg sodium butyrate group had significantly increased plasma glucose, cholesterol, albumin level, A/G ratio, ALT and AST contents (p < 0.05), while significantly decreased plasma ALT/AST ratio (p < 0.05). As for the intestinal digestive and brush border enzymes activities, compared with the control, the 2.0 and 4.0 g/kg sodium butyrate groups had significantly increased intestinal protease, amylase, AKP and Na⁺‐K⁺‐ATPase activities (p < 0.05), respectively. The relative level of intestinal CDX2 mRNA of fish significantly increased with dietary sodium butyrate level. Compared with the control, the 2.0 g/kg sodium butyrate groups had significantly increased the expression of intestinal CDX2 and CREB mRNA (p < 0.05), respectively. In conclusion, these results suggested that the optimum sodium butyrate level for juvenile golden pompano could be 2.0 g/kg of the diet.     

Effects of replacement of fishmeal with cottonseed protein concentrate on the growth,intestinal microflora,haematological and antioxidant indices of juvenile golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus)

A 56‐day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of replacing fish meal with cottonseed protein concentrate (CPC) (free gossypol < 7.9 mg/kg) in the diets on the growth, intestinal microflora, haematological and antioxidant indices of juvenile golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus). Six diets were designed: fishmeal diets (FM) which contained 340 g/kg fishmeal, as well as five CPC diets, each with differing CPC concentrations (120, 240, 360, 480 and 600 g/kg) to replace the fish meal. The weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) showed no significant difference among groups (p > .05) with the dietary CPC level ranged from 0 to 360 g/kg. Serum cholesterol (CHO) of C36 and triglyceride (TG) levels of C36 and C12 were significantly higher than the FM (p < .05). Total protein (TP) levels of C12 were significantly lower than the FM (p < .05). Among the treatments, C36 had higher glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐PX) and total superoxide dismutase (T‐SOD) than FM (p < .05). From the data analysis of 16s sequencing, with increasing CPC concentration, the proportion of harmful microbial taxa (Proteobacteria and Vibrio) increased. The results of this study support that CPC products are acceptable in practical diets for golden pompano. And the optimal dietary CPC replacement of golden pompano was estimated to be 259.3 g/kg.     

Effects of dietary mulberry leaf extract on the growth,gastrointestinal, hepatic functions of Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus)

Mulberry leaf extract (MLE), an active substance extracted from mulberry leaves, is known to have a positive effect on several physiological functions. The current study examined the effects of dietary MLE in feed at concentrations 0, 3.0, 6.0, 9.0, 12.0 and 15.0 g/kg on the growth performance and gastrointestinal and hepatic functions of Andrias davidianus for 12 weeks. Results indicated that the final body weight, weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate and feed intake (FI) of A. davidianus increased with the increase in the dietary MLE up to 9.0 g/kg and declined thereafter, while the feed conversion ratio (FCR) exhibited an opposite trend. Meanwhile, A. davidianus with a dietary intake of 9.0 g/kg MLE showed higher levels of crude protein in muscles and lower levels of moisture and crude lipid levels in the liver and muscles when compared with the control. In addition, dietary MLE increased the density and length of the villi and decreased the cavity rate in the foregut, enhancing the activities of carbonic anhydrase, H⁺‐K⁺‐ATPase, pepsin, intestinal trypsin, lipase and Na⁺‐K⁺‐ATPase (p < .05) in the stomach. Furthermore, dietary MLE increased the intestinal and hepatic superoxide dismutase activities and total antioxidative capacities but decreased their malondialdehyde contents in A. davidianus. Dietary MLE also significantly increased the immune parameters, and the plasma total protein, albumin and immunoglobulin M contents but significantly decreased the aspartate aminotr‐ansferase, alanine aminotransferase and diamine oxidase activities, and the total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, cholesterol, triglyceride and endotoxin contents (p < .05). In conclusion, a quadratic regression analysis of WGR and FCR indicated that the optimum level of MLE for A. davidianus was between 8.21 and 8.30 g/kg of the diet.     

Effects of different dietary lipid sources on growth performance,body composition and lipid metabolism‐related enzymes and genes of juvenile golden pompano,Trachinotus ovatus

Three groups of juvenile golden pompano, Trachinotus ovatus (54.75 ± 0.25 g), were each fed one of three diets containing different lipid sources: fish oil (FO), soybean oil (SO) and lard oil (LO). Fish were reared in sea cages for 8 weeks, and the fish fed the FO diet had significantly higher specific growth rate (SGR) but lower condition factor (CF) than the other treatments. The fatty acid (FA) composition of whole‐body lipids was closely correlated with those in the diets. Although no differences can be found in hepatic fatty acid synthase (fasn) activity, the carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (cpt1) activity in fish fed the FO diet was significantly higher compared with other treatments. In addition, the relative gene expression of lipid metabolism‐related enzymes, such as cpt1, fas, apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100), delta‐6 fatty acyl desaturase (fadsd6) and fatty acid‐binding protein 1 (fabp1), was also influenced by the different dietary lipid sources. Serum triglyceride (TG) and glucose content in fish fed the LO and FO diets were significantly higher than those in the SO group. Accordingly, it can be concluded that FO could not be completely replaced by SO or LO in golden pompano diets. The lipid sources of a diet could impose significant influence on body condition factor and hepatic lipid metabolism of golden pompano.     

Nutritional regulation of gene expression and enzyme activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in the hepatic gluconeogenesis pathway in golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus)

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) is known to exist as mitochondrial (PEPCK‐M) and cytosolic isoforms (PEPCK‐C). They are involved in glucose production and play vital roles in regulating glucose homeostasis. This study aimed to (1) clone and characterize PEPCK‐C cDNA from golden pompano fish (Trachinotus ovatus), which are known to have poor utilization of dietary carbohydrates, and (2) analyze the regulation of its expression by varying dietary carbohydrate‐to‐lipid ratios and nutritional status. A full length golden pompano PEPCK‐C cDNA fragment of 2,652 bp was cloned, which contains an open reading frame of 1,875 bp encoding 624 amino acids and shows a high homology to cobia (Rachycentron canadum) PEPCK‐C sequence (92% similarity). The analysis of tissue distributions of PEPCK‐C mRNA showed that a high abundance of PEPCK‐C was expressed in golden pompano liver, followed by kidney; while lower expression levels were found in the heart and intestine. In liver, PEPCK is under the regulation of dietary composition and nutritional status at the enzymatic and molecular levels. Our results indicate that PEPCK‐C plays a modulating role in the adaptation of hepatic gluconeogenesis to different nutrient conditions. Thus, the absence of molecular inhibition of gluconeogenic PEPCK gene expression in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata), which can at least partially account for their poor utilization of dietary carbohydrate, is specific to these species and is not observed in golden pompano. Further studies that examine, at the enzymatic and molecular levels, other key enzymes involved in hepatic glucose metabolism are necessary to understand the poor utilization of carbohydrates in golden pompano.     

Effects of dietary carbohydrate to lipid ratio on growth,feed utilization,body composition and digestive enzyme activities of golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus)

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary carbohydrate to lipid ratio (CHO: L) on growth, feed utilization, body composition and digestive enzyme activities of golden pompano, Trachinotus ovatus. Five iso‐nitrogenous (450 g/kg protein) and iso‐energetic (19 MJ/kg gross energy) diets with varying CHO: L ratios of 0.68, 1.02, 1.62, 2.61 and 4.35, respectively, were fed to triplicate groups of 30 fish (average 13.8 ± 0.1 g). Results showed that dietary CHO: L ratios did not show any significant influence on survival of golden pompano (p > .05) but significantly affected its growth performance and feed utilization (p < .05). Fish fed diets with CHO: L ratios at 1.62 and 2.61 exhibited the highest final body weight, weight gain ratio, specific growth rate, feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio. Fish body lipid and liver glycogen contents were also significantly influenced by CHO: L ratio (p < .05). Hepatic amylase activity increased firstly and then decreased as the dietary CHO: L ratio increased, while lipases activity decreased with increasing dietary CHO:L level. The regression model analysis showed that the most suitable dietary CHO: L ratio (protein 450 g/kg) to reach the highest weight gain ratio is 2.38.     

Effects of dietary n‐3HUFA on different growth stages of the white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei: Growth,haematological characteristics,enzyme activities and fatty acid profiles

This study investigated the effects of n‐3 high unsaturated fatty acid (n‐3HUFA) levels on the growth performance, antioxidant enzyme activities and fatty acid profiles of both subadult and adult Litopenaeus vannamei (L. vannamei). Seven iso‐nitrogenous and iso‐lipidic diets were used, containing n‐3HUFA concentrations of 1.6 (control), 4.8, 7.4, 13.9, 23.9, 29.2 and 34.4 g/kg, respectively. Two 8‐week feeding trials were conducted to determine the dietary n‐3HUFA requirements of L. vannamei with an initial body weight of 4.25 ± 0.00 g (subadults) and 8.50 ± 0.01 g (adults). The results showed that the dietary n‐3HUFA level significantly affected the weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate, the feed conversion ratio and the hepatosomatic index (HSI) (p < 0.05), but did not significantly affect the survival rate (p > 0.05). At appropriate level, dietary n‐3HUFA improved growth performance and HSI of both subadult and adult L. vannamei. Both subadults and adults showed significant differences in body composition (p < 0.05), except for moisture and crude ash (p > 0.05). Cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein significantly decreased with increasing dietary n‐3HUFA both in subadults and adults (p < 0.05); however, triglyceride showed no significant change (p > 0.05). High‐density lipoprotein (HDL) in subadults was significantly affected by dietary n‐3HUFA (p < 0.05), but followed no apparent regularity; HDL significantly changed in adults and showed an upward trend followed by a downward trend (p < 0.05). There was no significant effect on aspartate transaminase (AST) activity in subadults, but AST in adults and alanine transaminase (ALT) in subadults and adults were significantly affected (p < 0.05). Dietary n‐3HUFA significantly affected serum polyphend oxidase, malic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, superoxide dismutase and sodium‐potassium adenosine triphosphatase enzyme activities in gills (p < 0.05). The fatty acid composition of the shrimp tissue was associated with the fatty acid composition of the diet. Dietary n‐3HUFA supplementation significantly improved the contents of tissue ∑HUFA and n‐3HUFA, increased the n‐3/n‐6 ratio in the tail muscle and decreased the contents of tissue polyunsaturated fatty acid and saturated fatty acid (p < 0.05). Based on the WGR, the broken‐line equations indicated that the optimum requirements of dietary n‐3HUFA were determined to be 9.0 and 5.1 g/kg for subadult and adult L. vannamei, respectively.     

Antioxidant defence to ammonia stress of characins (Hyphessobrycon eques Steindachner) fed diets supplemented with carotenoids

This study aimed to find out whether dietary carotenoid (CD) supplement could influence the resistance of characins (Hyphessobrycon eques Steindachner) to ammonia stress. Two types of CD and its combination [astaxanthin (AX), β‐carotene (BC), 1 : 1 combination of AX and BC (MX)] at three concentrations (10, 20 and 40 mg kg⁻¹) were used resulting in nine pigmented diets. No differences in growth and survival of the fish among treatments were found after 8‐week rearing. Experimental and control fish were then exposed to 15 mg total ammonia nitrogen L⁻¹ (stress group) and 0.15 mg total ammonia nitrogen L⁻¹ (normal group) for 72 h, and their blood was withdrawn. No mortality resulted under such TAN concentrations. Serum total antioxidant status (TAS), serum antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidases (GPx)] and serum transaminases [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)] were chosen as indices of fish antioxidant capacity or stress resistance. SOD, GPx and AST were affected by the interactions of dietary CD and ammonia stress. The activities of TAS, SOD, GPx and AST increased under the stress. Dietary CD reduced serum SOD, GPx, ALT and AST activities. In conclusion, dietary CD increased the resistance of characins to ammonia stress.     

Dietary supplementation with taurine improves ability to resist ammonia stress in hybrid snakehead (Channa maculatus♀ × Channa argus♂)

This study determined the effect of dietary supplementation with taurine on plasma biochemical indices, blood cell apoptosis rate, survival rate and expression of catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and heat‐shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene in juvenile hybrid snakehead under ammonia stress. Six diets were formulated to contain 0, 3.0, 6.0, 9.0, 12.0 and 15.0 g/kg taurine. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of fish in cylindrical tanks. After 8 weeks of feeding, 20 fish per tank were exposed to ammonia stress (total ammonia nitrogen = 200 mg/L) for 48 hr. The results showed that, after ammonia stress, plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP), triacylglycerol (TG) levels and survival rate significantly decreased (p < 0.05) while plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea nitrogen (BUN), respiratory burst, blood cell apoptosis rate, hepatic CAT, GR and HSP70 mRNA expression levels significantly increased (p < 0.05). On the other hand, dietary supplementation with taurine significantly reduced levels of BUN, respiratory burst and blood cell apoptosis rate. Supplemented groups significantly increased relative mRNA expression of hepatic CAT, GR and HSP70 as well as increased survival rate (p < 0.05). These results indicated that dietary supplementation with taurine improved ability to resist ammonia stress in hybrid snakehead.     

Dietary myo‐inositol requirements of juvenile hybrid sturgeon (Acipenser baerii ♀ × A. schrenckii ♂)

This study was conducted to determine the optimal dietary myo‐inositol (MI) requirement of juvenile hybrid sturgeon (Acipenser baerii ♀ × A. schrenckii ♂). Fish with an initial average body weight of 28.28 ± 0.41 g were randomly divided into six groups with three repetitions in each group and fed the experimental diets with different graded MI concentrations (70.2, 130.0, 270.2, 443.0, 1,096.6 and 1997.3 mg/kg) three times per day for 12 weeks. The results showed that with the increase in dietary MI level from 70.2 mg/kg to 443.0 mg/kg, weight gain (WG) was increased significantly (p < .05); however, when the MI level was further increased, there was no significant difference in weight gain rate (WG) over time (p > .05). Specific growth rate (SGR) showed a similar trend. The feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival rate (SR), hepatosomatic index (HSI), viscerasomatic index (VSI) and condition factor (CF) were not affected by dietary MI supplementation (p > .05). Dietary MI did not affect whole‐body and muscle crude protein and ash content (p > .05), while dietary MI significantly affected the muscle and whole‐body crude lipid and moisture content (p < .05). Moreover, serum triglyceride (TG), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were decreased by increasing dietary MI levels. Total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC), malonic dialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in the liver were also affected by the dietary MI (p < .05). In summary, this study indicated that the optimal dietary MI requirement for juvenile hybrid sturgeon (Acipenser baerii ♀ × A. schrenckii ♂) was 335.84 mg/kg and 590.65 mg/kg based on the maximum WG and liver MI accumulation indices respectively.     

吉富罗非鱼对饲料中维生素B1的需要量

采用维生素B1(VB1)含量为0.08(对照组)、0.57、1.13、2.09、4.11和8.09 mg/kg的6种纯化饲料,分别饲养初始体质量为(64.4±1.5)g的吉富罗非鱼12周,研究VB1对其生长性能、部分血清生化指标、肝脏VB1蓄积量及转酮醇酶基因表达量的影响,以确定其对饲料VB1的需要量.结果显示,随着饲料中VB1含量增加,吉富罗非鱼增重率先呈线性增加后趋于稳定,当饲料中VB1含量为1.13、2.09、4.11、8.09 mg/kg时增重率达最大.吉富罗非鱼肝脏VB1含量随着饲料VB1含量增加不断增大,当增加到2.09 mg/kg后趋于稳定.饲料中缺乏VB1显著提高血清丙酮酸含量(P＜0.05),但对全鱼水分、粗脂肪、粗蛋白、灰分无显著性影响(P＞0.05).饲料中添加VB1显著提高血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇和肝脏转酮醇酶基因表达量(P＜0.05).饲料中VB1含量大于1.13 mg/kg各组的肝脏转酮醇酶活性显著高于VB1含量小于0.57 mg/kg组(P＜0.05).折线回归分析表明,吉富罗非鱼(64 ～325 g)获得最佳生长时对饲料VB1需要量为1.16 mg/kg;肝脏VB1蓄积量达到最大时,对VB1的需要量为2.06mg/kg.     

Effects of β‐conglycinin on growth performance,antioxidant capacity and intestinal health in juvenile golden crucian carp,Carassius auratus

The objective of this study was conducted to research the effects of β‐conglycinin in the diets on the growth performance, immunity function, antioxidant capacity and intestinal health of juvenile golden crucian carp (Carassius auratus). Five diets contained respectively (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 g/kg) β‐conglycinin, and were used to feed juvenile golden crucian carp for 56 days. Final weight, weight gain and specific growth rate were significantly reduced by dietary β‐conglycinin (20–80 g/kg). Feed efficiency and protein efficiency were significantly reduced by dietary β‐conglycinin (40–80 g/kg). In hepatopancreas, the activities of T‐SOD, ACP, ALT and T‐AOC were significantly suppressed by dietary β‐conglycinin (20–80 g/kg). The activities of LZM, AKP, CAT and GPx were significantly reduced by dietary β‐conglycinin (40–80 g/kg). The activities of protease were significantly reduced and the content of MDA was significantly increased by dietary β‐conglycinin (60–80 g/kg). In proximal intestines, the activities of protease and CAT were significantly decreased by dietary β‐conglycinin (40–80 g/kg). In mid and distal intestines, the activities of protease and CAT were significantly inhibited by dietary β‐conglycinin (20–80 g/kg). In intestines, T‐AOC and GPx were significantly declined by dietary β‐conglycinin (20–80 g/kg). In proximal and mid intestines, the content of MDA were significantly increased by dietary β‐conglycinin (40–80 g/kg). In distal intestines, the content of MDA was significantly increased by dietary β‐conglycinin (20–80 g/kg). The expression of IGF‐I was significantly decreased and the expression of IL‐1β and TNF‐α was significantly increased by dietary β‐conglycinin (20–80 g/kg). The structural integrity of intestinal tissues were damaged by dietary β‐conglycinin (20–80 g/kg), the part of intestinal villus were shed, the part of epithelial cells were separated from lamina propria. Ultimately, these results suggested dietary β‐conglycinin should be <20 g/kg in formula feed of golden crucian carp.     

Effects of dietary soy isoflavones on growth,antioxidant status,immune response and resistance of juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) to Aeromonas hydrophila challenge

The current study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary soy isoflavones (SI) on growth performance, antioxidant status, immune response and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila in juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Six diets were formulated to contain 0 (control), 10, 50, 100, 500 or 1,000 mg SI per kg feed. Each diet was randomly allotted to triplicate net cages, and each net cage was stocked with 30 fish. The fish were fed one of the experimental diets to satiation twice per day for 60 days. The results showed that the WGR and DGC of the 500 mg/kg SI‐supplemented group were significantly higher than those of the non‐SI‐supplemented group (p < .05). Serum LZM and IgM activities in the SI‐supplemented groups were improved compared to the control group. SOD and GSH‐Px levels of fish fed the diet containing 500 mg/kg SI were significantly enhanced compared to those of fish fed the control diet (p < .05). Additionally, serum CAT, GSH‐Px and AKP activities in 50, 100 and 500 mg/kg SI‐supplemented groups were significantly higher than that in the control group (p < .05). The expression of most immune‐related genes (including IFN‐γ2, TNF‐α, M‐CSF2, IL‐6, IL‐12p40 and IL‐4) was significantly affected by dietary supplementation of SI. The group fed with 500 mg/kg SI had the highest 7‐day cumulative survival rate after challenge test (p < .05). The current results revealed that dietary inclusion of SI could improve the immune response and resistance against A. hydrophila and the supplementation level is suggested to be 500 mg/kg diet.     

Optimum selenium requirement of juvenile Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

A feeding experiment was conducted to determine the optimum selenium requirement in juvenile Nile tilapia. Each of six purified diets with Se‐methionine levels at 0.05, 0.21, 0.41, 0.57, 0.79 and 1.00 mg/kg was assayed in triplicate with initial body weight of 3.00 ± 0.01 g for 8 weeks. The growth of fish was obviously increased when the dietary Se was less than 0.57 mg/kg diet and reached a plateau when the dietary Se was ≥0.57 mg/kg. Serum and hepatopancreatic glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity increased markedly when the dietary Se was less than 0.57 mg/kg, but then decreased when the dietary Se was higher than 0.57 mg/kg. The malondialdehyde contents in hepatopancreas were significantly decreased when the dietary Se was higher than 0.79 mg/kg. No significant differences were observed in hepatopancreatic total antioxidant capability (T‐AOC) among the groups (p > .05). The results of this study indicated that Se addition as Se‐methionine was essential, while both the deficiency and excess levels of dietary Se would cause negative effects on growth or antioxidant capability in juvenile Nile tilapia. Based on broken‐line regression of WG and piecewise regression of liver GPx, the optimum requirement of Se for juvenile Nile tilapia is 0.57 mg/kg diet.     

Investigations on zinc bioavailability of different sources and dietary zinc requirement in juvenile grouper Epinephelus coioides

An experiment was implemented to study the effect of dietary zinc levels from three zinc sources on growth performance, immunity, and tissue mineral elements deposition on juvenile grouper. Based on the zinc free feeds, dietary zinc levels of 0, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg/kg were added from zinc sulphate (ZnSO₄), tetrabasic zinc chloride (TBZC), and 2‐hydroxy‐4‐(methylthio) butyrate zinc (Zn‐HMB). The results of the 8‐week study indicated that the weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) at level 10 mg/kg were significantly higher than the control fed and the reached a plateau until level 80 mg/kg, when the sources were ZnSO₄ and Zn‐HMB. WGR and SGR decreased significantly at level 160 mg/kg compared to 80 mg/kg in group TBZC. Feed coefficient (FCR) of all zinc source groups showed trend of decrease before rising. The alkaline phosphatase (AKP) in serum, catalase (CAT), total superoxide dismutase (SOD), copper‐zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu‐Zn SOD) in liver and zinc concentrations in whole body and vertebrae increased significantly than those in control group and then kept steadily in all treatments. Regardless of the sources, the manganic content of whole body or vertebra showed a downtrend. Based on the WGR, the dietary zinc requirements in juvenile grouper were 52.94 mg/kg from ZnSO₄. The average relative bioavailability (RBV) of TBZC and Zn‐HMB was 169.33% and 200.33%, respectively, compared to ZnSO₄.     

Dietary calcium requirement of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkia)

To investigate dietary calcium requirement of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkia), six semi‐purified diets were formulated to contain different concentrations of calcium (2.7(control group), 6.1, 11.9, 17.6, 23.5 and 29.1 g/kg calcium). Each diet was hand‐fed to triplicate of 15 crayfish with average initial body weight (6.22 ± 0.87) g for 8 weeks. The results showed that weight gain rate (WGR) significantly increased and feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly decreased from 11.9 to 23.5 g/kg groups (p < .05). Protease activities in intestine and hepatopancreas and parathyroid hormone concentrations in serum significantly decreased with increasing dietary calcium levels (p < .05), while calcium and phosphorus contents in exoskeleton, calcium content in muscle and calcitonin concentrations in serum significantly increased (p < .05). The activities of lipase and amylase in intestine and hepatopancreas, serum alkaline phosphatase and total vitamin D concentrations in serum had significant increase as dietary calcium content increased up to 11.9–17.6 g/kg (p < .05). The inorganic phosphorus content in 29.1 g/kg group was significantly lower than those in other groups (p < .05). Broken‐line model analysis based on WGR and quadratic curve model analysis based on FCR showed that optimal dietary calcium requirement of red swamp crayfish ranged from 12.7 to 17.1 g/kg.     

Effects of dietary reduced glutathione on the growth and antioxidant capacity of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

To investigate the effects of dietary reduced glutathione (GSH) on the growth performance and antioxidant capacity of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), 396 juvenile fish with initial body weight of 143.07 ± 6.56 g were randomly distributed into four groups fed four diets with graded supplementation levels of GSH (0, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg diet) for 83 days. The results showed that the appropriate GSH supplementation (100 and 200 mg/kg diet) significantly increased the growth performance, activities and gene mRNA expression levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione transferase (GST), and the content of GSH and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), whereas it significantly decreased activities and gene mRNA expression levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA; p < 0.05). However, the excess dietary GSH (400 mg/kg diet) had an adverse effect on the all above indexes. Interestingly, the dietary GSH had the opposite effect on GSH‐related antioxidant enzymes (GPx and GST) and other antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT). The results showed that the diet with 200 mg/kg GSH supplementation was optimal for the juvenile Atlantic salmon, which had a measured GSH content of 209.54 mg/kg.     

Effects of dietary turmeric administration on stress,immune, antioxidant and inflammatory responses of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) during copper exposure

The present study assessed the effects of dietary turmeric on Cyprinus carpio resistance and responses to copper exposure. First, the fish were assigned to four treatments received diets supplemented with 0 (control), 5, 10 and 20 g/kg turmeric for 3 weeks. Thereafter, the fish were exposed to lethal concentration (3.5 mg/L) of ambient copper for 24 hr and mortality was 65.3%, 41.8%, 22.7% and 20.6%, respectively. In the second experiment, the fish were fed with the aforementioned diets and simultaneously exposed to sub‐lethal concentration (0.25 mg/L) of ambient copper for 3 weeks. Copper exposure led to increases in plasma cortisol, glucose, malondialdehyde (MDA), alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), and decrease in plasma T₄, T₃, lysozyme, alternative complement haemolytic (ACH50), bactericidal activities, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and blood red blood cell count (RBC) and haemoglobin. Moreover, copper exposure led to significant upregulation of tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐a) and interleukin 1‐beta (IL1‐b), and significant downregulation of interleukin 10 (IL10) gene expressions in the fish liver. Turmeric administration at 10 g/kg significantly mitigated/inhibited the copper‐induced negative effects, which seems to be due to the augmenting of the antioxidant defence.     

Effects of dietary carbohydrate level on growth performance,innate immunity,antioxidant ability and hypoxia resistant of brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis

Juvenile brook trout were fed on six isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets, containing graded levels of gelatinized corn starch (50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 g/kg diet) for 81 days. Cellulose was used to compensate carbohydrate loss. The weight gain, specific growth rate and protein efficiency ratio increased as the dietary carbohydrate level increased from 50 to 150 g/kg, but decreased thereafter (p < .05). Quadratic regression analysis revealed that the optimum dietary carbohydrate level was in the range of 187.1–194.1 g/kg. In addition, serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase activities, as well as glucose content, were highest in the group fed on 300 g/kg carbohydrate (p < .05). The hepatic malondialdehyde level increased with dietary carbohydrate levels (p < .05). The hepatic lysozyme activity increased as dietary carbohydrate level increased from 50 to 150 g/kg and decreased thereafter (p < .05). The overall survival rate after hypoxia challenge (45 min; dissolved oxygen content: 2.2 mg L^?1) decreased with dietary carbohydrate levels (p < .05). Taken together, these results suggested that optimal level of dietary carbohydrate could improve growth performance. However, excessive dietary carbohydrate intake (> 250 g/kg) may decrease innate immunity status, increase oxidative stress and reduce resistance to hypoxia stress in brook trout.     

Nanoparticles of Arthrospira platensis improves growth,antioxidative and immunological responses of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and its resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila

Several studies investigated the usage of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) in aquaculture as a functional dietary additive or plant proteins replacers; however, more efforts still needed to test its nano form inclusion in aquafeed. In this study, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed dietary spirulina (A. platensis) nanoparticles (SNP) at 0 (control), 0.1, 1 and 10 g/kg diet while the fifth diet was mixed with 10 g/kg of the normal form of A. platensis as a positive control. The final weight (FW), weight gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio of fish fed SNP at 10 g/kg displayed improved values comparing with the other groups (p < 0.05). Further, fish fed 1 g SNP had higher FW and WG than the control and 0.1 g SNP and 10 g normal A. platensis. The incorporation of SNP at 1 and 10 g/kg in Nile tilapia diets significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced total protein, albumin, globulin, lowered the values of serum glucose and activities of ALT and AST compared with control and spirulina groups. The SOD, CAT, GPx, lysozyme and respiratory burst activities were meaningfully promoted (p < 0.05) in fish received 1 and 10 g/kg diet concerning the control and spirulina groups. Nile tilapia challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila showed congestion of the kidney, liver and spleen tissues while SNP alleviated the inflammation induced by A. hydrophila. Different levels of SNP-incorporated group showed lower cumulative mortality than the other groups. In conclusion, the obtained results illustrated that spirulina in nano form is recommended to enhance Nile tilapia well-being.