Dietary histidine requirement of juvenile blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala)

An eight‐week feeding trial was conducted to determine the dietary histidine requirement of juvenile blunt snout bream. The results showed that final body weight, weight gain rate and specific growth rate significantly increased with increasing dietary histidine levels up to 9.9 g/kg (p < .05) and decreased gradually thereafter, while feed conversion ratio showed a converse trend. The survival rate, condition factor, viscerosomatic and hepatosomatic index were not significantly affected by the graded dietary histidine levels (p > .05). About 9.9 g/kg dietary histidine level significantly improved whole‐body protein and lowered moisture content. The contents of plasma total protein, cholesterol, urea and triglyceride levels were not significantly affected by dietary histidine levels. About 9.9 g/kg dietary histidine level significantly upregulated target of rapamycin and insulin‐like growth factor mRNA levels (p < .05), and 12.1 g/kg and 14.2 g/kg dietary histidine levels significantly upregulated eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E‐binding protein 2 and ribosomal protein S6 kinase‐polypeptide 1 mRNA levels (p < .05). Based on second‐degree polynomial regression analysis of weight gain rate, and specific growth rate against dietary histidine levels, the dietary histidine requirement for juvenile blunt snout bream was estimated to be 11.2 g/kg of diet, corresponding to 36.1 g/kg of dietary protein.     

Dietary methionine requirement of juvenile blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) at a constant dietary cystine level

A 9‐week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the dietary methionine requirement of juvenile Megalobrama amblycephala at a constant dietary cystine level. Six semipurified diets were formulated to contain graded dietary methionine levels from 3.9 to 15.4 g kg^?1 in about 2.5 g kg^?1 increments in the presence of 2.2 g kg^?1 cystine. Results showed that specific growth rate (SGR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) significantly increased with increasing dietary methionine levels from 3.9 to 12.4 g kg^?1 and thereafter kept stable. Maximum protein productive value (PPV), nitrogen retention efficiency (NRE) and liver weight were observed in 8.5 g methionine kg^?1 diet. Protein contents in whole fish body were positively correlated with dietary methionine level, while lipid contents were negatively correlated with it. Morphological index and hepatic glutamate‐pyruvate transaminase (GPT) activities were independent of dietary methionine levels. However, dietary methionine supplementation significantly improved haematological parameters, plasma methionine and total essential amino acid contents and hepatic glutamate‐oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) activities. Analysis of dose response using broken‐line regression on the basis of SGR and PPV versus dietary methionine level estimated the optimum dietary methionine requirements of juvenile M. amblycephala to be between 8.5 and 8.4 g kg^?1 of diet (25.0 and 24.7 g kg^?1 of protein) in the presence of 2.2 g kg^?1 cystine, respectively. Hence, the corresponding total sulphur amino acids requirements of this species were calculated to be 10.7 and 10.6 g kg^?1 of diet (31.5 and 31.2 g kg^?1 of dietary protein).     

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.     

团头鲂3个选育群体遗传潜力的微卫星分析

为从遗传多样性的角度了解团头鲂(Megalobrama amblycephala)3个选育群体的遗传潜力,该研究以团头鲂"浦江1号"选育奠基群体(F_0)为对照组,采用14个多态性转录组微卫星标记评估了团头鲂3个选育群体的遗传多样性,分析其遗传潜力。结果显示,3个选育群体平均每个位点的等位基因数(A)为7.928 6~8.785 7,有效等位基因数(A_E)为4.409 4~4.878 4,观察杂合度(H_O)为0.491 1~0.574 4,期望杂合度(HE)为0.741 3~0.751 8,多态信息含量(PIC)为0.691 2~0.705 2,近交系数(FIS)为0.229~0.352。3个选育群体的遗传多样性水平(AE、HE)均高于F0群体,但不存在显著差异(P0.05)。3个选育群体的有效群体大小(N_e)为11.0~29.3,在近期可能经历过遗传瓶颈。3个选育群体间D_A、D_(SW)遗传距离分别为0.175 4~0.358 8、0.804 7~1.054 4。该结果表明,3个选育群体的遗传多样性较高,遗传潜力较大,但因有效群体数量较少和瓶颈效应的影响,存在杂合度下降和近交衰退的风险,今后需采取科学措施来保护选育群体的遗传潜力。     

Effects of dietary carbohydrate/lipid ratios on growth performance,body composition and glucose metabolism of fingerling blunt snout bream Megalobrama amblycephala

This study aimed to investigate the optimum dietary carbohydrate/lipid (CHO/L) ratio for fingerling blunt snout bream Megalobrama amblycephala (average initial weight: 6.61 ± 0.03 g). Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated to contain various CHO/L ratios ranging from 1.62 to 24.20. Each diet was tested in four replicates for 10 weeks. Specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio and nitrogen and energy retention all improved significantly (P < 0.05) as dietary CHO/L ratios decreased from 24.20 to 5.64 but showed little difference (P > 0.05) as dietary CHO/L ratios ranged from 2.45 to 5.64. Hepatosomatic index increased significantly (P < 0.05) as dietary CHO/L ratios increased, whereas intraperitoneal fat ratio showed an opposite trend (P < 0.05). Opposite to moisture content, lipid content of whole body and carcass all increased significantly (P < 0.05) as dietary CHO/L ratios decreased. Liver lipid content showed little difference (P > 0.05) among all the treatments, while liver glycogen content increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing CHO/L ratios. High dietary carbohydrate enhanced the activities of liver hexokinase, pyruvate kinase and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase but did not induce hyperglycaemia. Based on the second‐order polynomial regression analysis of SGR, the optimal dietary carbohydrate and lipid contents for fingerling blunt snout bream were 291.7 and 81.4 g kg⁻¹, respectively, with a corresponding dietary CHO/L ratio of 3.58.     

湖北淤泥湖团头舫mtDNA限制性片段长度多态性的研究

用ＢａｍＨＩ、ＢｇｌＩ、ＣｌａＩ、ＥｃｏＲＩ、ＨｉｎｄⅢ、ＫｐｎＩ、ＰｓｔＩ，ＰｖｕⅡＳａｃⅡ、ＳａｃＩ、ＳｃａＩ、ＸｂａＩ，ＸｂａＩ和ＸｈｏＩ十四种限制性内切酶对来源于湖北淤泥湖的团头舫进行线粒体ＤＮＡ限制性片估长度多态性研究。初步表明ＤＮＡ上切点呈现不同程度的多态性。共检测到六种母集集团。发现一尾团头舫ｍｔＤＮＡ分子大小比普通型鱼ｍｔＤＮＡ小约０．７０ｋｂ。呈现出ｍｔＤＮＡ发子大小多态现象。     

Effects of dietary vitamin E supplementation on growth performance,fatty acid composition,lipid peroxidation and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) expressions in juvenile blunt snout bream <Emphasis Type="Italic">Megalobrama amblycephala</Emphasis>

A 9-week feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary vitamin E (VE) supplementation on growth performance, liver fatty acid composition, lipid peroxidation and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) genes expressions in blunt snout bream juveniles. Fish (average initial weight: 0.59 g) were fed diet supplemented with 0, 50, 100, 300 and 500 mg α-tocopherol acetate/kg in triplicates, which were found to, respectively, contain 11.2, 56.3, 114.6, 306.5 and 588.4 mg α-tocopherol/kg diet. Results showed that final weight, body weight gain and specific growth rate significantly increased with increasing dietary VE supplemented level from 11.2 to 56.3 mg/kg. When the broken-line model was employed to estimate the adequate requirement of vitamin E based on body weight gain, the optimal level was 55.5 mg/kg in diet. Hepatosomatic index value significantly decreased with incremental dietary VE levels. However, liver VE concentration showed a direct relationship with the dietary VE level. The percentages of 20:5n-3, 22:6n-3 and total n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in liver increased with increasing dietary VE supplementation. Meanwhile, the expressions of PPAR-α, PPAR-β and PPAR-γ in liver were down-regulated by supplementation of dietary VE level from 56.3 to 588.4 mg/kg. In conclusion, supplementation of more than 55.5 mg/kg vitamin E may improve growth and increase n-3 LC-PUFA content in blunt snout bream, which is beneficial to human consumer.     

饲料锌对团头鲂幼鱼生长性能、血清生化指标和抗氧化功能的影响

以酪蛋白和明胶为蛋白源,七水硫酸锌(Zn SO4·7H2O)为Zn源,分别配制成7种Zn含量(7.4 mg/kg、20.3 mg/kg、32.1 mg/kg、51.0 mg/kg、84.4 mg/kg、169.7 mg/kg、332.4 mg/kg)的半纯化饲料,投喂初始体重为(3.6±0.1)g团头鲂(Megalobrama amblycephala)12周,考察Zn对团头鲂幼鱼生长性能、血清生化指标和抗氧化功能的影响,确定团头鲂幼鱼对饲料Zn的需要量。结果表明,随着饲料Zn含量增加,团头鲂增重率、特定生长率和全鱼Zn含量呈先增加后稳定的趋势;全鱼水分含量显著降低(P0.05),粗蛋白含量显著增加。饲料Zn含量对团头鲂饲料系数无显著影响。饲料中添加Zn显著影响血清总蛋白、尿素氮、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、总胆固醇以及甘油三酯含量,而对血清白蛋白含量和碱性磷酸酶活性无显著影响。随着饲料中Zn含量的增加,团头鲂肝丙二醛含量显著降低(P0.05),而肝过氧化氢酶和超氧化物歧化酶活性在各处理间均无显著差异。折线回归分析表明,团头鲂幼鱼(体重3.6~26.7 g)获得最佳生长时对饲料Zn需要量为32.6 mg/kg,获得最大鱼体Zn含量时Zn的需要量为47.6 mg/kg。本研究旨在确定团头鲂幼鱼对饲料中Zn的需要量,为配制团头鲂高效环保饲料提供科学依据。     

不同倍性团头鲂群体的线粒体DNA 分析

测定了来自5个不同倍性团头鲂（Megalobrama amblycephala）群体（4n-F1、正交3n、反交3n、异源3n、二倍体2n）57个个体的线粒体DNA控制区、细胞色素b基因、16S rRNA基因和COⅡ基因序列,通过对这4段基因序列的联合分析,研究了5个不同倍性团头鲂群体的遗传变异。这4个基因片段的长度分别为：控制区937bp,细胞色素b基因1140bp,16S rRNA基因片段564bp,COⅡ基因片段642bp。将4个基因片段合并为1条总长度为3283bp的片段：在这条3283bp片段中,T、C、A、G4种核苷酸的平均含量分别为27．18％、25．45％、30．71％、16．66％。57个个体中确定了55种单倍型,未发现群体间有共享的单倍型,五群体的单倍型多样度在0．9848-1．0000之间,显示不同倍性团头鲂群体内单倍型类型丰富。5个群体内各序列平均核苷酸差异数（目在8．000-24．273之间,核苷酸多样性指数（π）在0．2483％～0．7866％之间：群体间遗传距离范围为0．0039～0．0106,显示不同倍性团头鲂群体遗传多态性丰富。核苷酸多样性指数（π）、平均核苷酸差异数（K）和核苷酸序列间平均遗传距离在5个群体间的变化趋势一致,由大到小依次为反交3n、异源3n、正交3n、同源4n-F1、二倍体2n。而且,反交3n、异源3n、正交3n和同源4n-F1群体的核苷酸多样性指数（π）、平均核苷酸差异数（K）以及核苷酸序列间平均遗传距离均显著大于2n群体（P〈0．05）。结果表明,反交3n、异源3n、正交3n和同源4n-F1群体的遗传多样性水平显著高于2n群体。[中国水产科学,2008,15（2）：222-229]     

Effects of dietary docosahexaenoic acid on growth performance,fatty acid profile and lipogenesis of blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala)

Six diets were designed to investigate the effects of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n‐3; DHA) levels (0.5, 1.3, 2.3, 4.2, 8.1 and 15.9 g/kg diets) on growth performance, fatty acid profile and expression of some lipogenesis‐related genes of blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). Fish (average weight: 26.40 ± 0.11 g) were randomly fed one of six diets for 8 weeks. Results indicated that the final body weight (FBW) and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed 1.3 g/kg DHA were significantly higher than other groups except for the 2.3 g/kg DHA (p < .05). Compared with other groups, the number of lipid droplet clusters of the liver stained with oil red O in the 2.3 g/kg DHA group was the highest, which was consistent with the lipid contents of whole body and liver. The DHA proportion in liver and muscle significantly increased with the increasing dietary DHA levels (p < .05), which reflected fatty acid profiles of diets. The highest mRNA expressions of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase α (ACCα), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1 (SREBP‐1) occurred in the 1.3 g/kg DHA group, followed by 2.3 g/kg DHA. In summary, the supplementation of 1.3–2.3 g/kg DHA could improve growth performance and lipogenesis, and the dietary DHA could improve DHA and PUFA proportion in liver and muscle.     

果寡糖对急性氨氮应激下团头鲂非特异性免疫指标的影响

为研究氨氮应激条件下果寡糖对团头鲂(Megalobrama amblycephala)非特异免疫指标的影响,试验选择360尾初重为13.5 g的团头鲂随机分为3组,每组4个重复,每缸30尾鱼,对照组投喂基础日粮,试验组分别投喂果寡糖(FOS)添加量为0.4%和0.8%的日粮,饲养8周,养殖试验结束后,用10 mg/L的NH4Cl对24尾鱼进行氨氮应激试验。试验结果显示,氨氮应激前,0.4%FOS组的血液谷丙转氨酶(GPT)活性显著低于对照组和0.8%FOS组,在氨氮应激后,0.4%FOS组的GOT活性有降低的趋势,但仅在24 h时显著低于0.8%组,0.8%组和对照组之间并无显著差异;血清酸性磷酸酶、补体3(C3)、补体4(C4)、酚氧化酶都出现先升高后降低的趋势,分别在应激后的3、24、12、12 h达到最大值。此外,应激前0.4%FOS组补体C3、C4、酚氧化酶的活性都显著高于对照组,应激后0.4%FOS组C3在3 h处显著高于对照组,但是在其它时间点各组差异并不显著,果寡糖添加水平和采样时间对这些免疫指标都无显著的交互作用。结果表明饲料中添加0.4%的果寡糖能够提高团头鲂的免疫力指标活性,提高了团头鲂抗氨氮应激的能力。     

Complete replacement of fish meal by plant protein ingredients with dietary essential amino acids supplementation for juvenile blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala)

Six extruded diets were formulated with a graded level of fish meal (FM); diet 1 and diet 2 were formulated with 80 g/kg FM; diet 3 and diet 4 were formulated with 40 g/kg FM; and diet 5 and diet 6 were devoid of FM. Hence, diet 2, diet 4 and diet 6 were supplemented with essential amino acids (EAAs). The diets were fed throughout an eight‐week feeding trial. The results revealed that specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), body weight gain (BWG) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were influenced by FM reduction and improved by the addition of EAA (p < 0.05). A survival rate (SR), whole body content of protein, lipid, moisture and ash, and plasma total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), triglyceride (TG) and urea (UN) did not influence by dietary treatments (p > 0.05). Additionally, target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway did not influence by dietary treatments (p > 0.05). Expression levels of hepatic peptide transporter 1 (Pept1) and peptide transporter 2 (Pept2) decreased against FM reduction and improved significantly in the groups fed diet 4 and diet 6. In summary, the findings revealed that diet containing plant proteins mixture supplemented with EAA could totally replace FM in the practical diet of blunt snout bream.     

Protein-sparing effect of dietary lipid in practical diets for blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) fingerlings: effects on digestive and metabolic responses

This study aimed to evaluate the protein-sparing effect of dietary lipid on digestive and metabolic responses of fingerling Megalobrama amblycephala. Fish were fed nine practical diets with three protein levels (270, 310 and 350 g kg⁻¹) and three lipid levels (40, 70 and 100 g kg⁻¹) for 8 weeks. Weight gain was significantly affected only by dietary lipid levels with the highest found in fish fed 70 g kg⁻¹ lipid. Relative feed intake and whole-body protein content showed little difference among all the treatments. Activities of intestine lipase and amylase increased significantly as dietary lipid levels increased, whereas little difference was observed in protease activities. Liver lipid content was significantly affected only by protein levels with the lowest found in fish fed 310 g kg⁻¹ protein. Liver aspartate aminotransferase (GOT) activities increased significantly with decreasing lipid levels, whereas the highest GOT activity was obtained in fish fed 310 g kg⁻¹ protein in terms of dietary protein levels. Activities of liver lipoprotein lipase, total lipase and plasma cholesterol concentration of fish fed 350 g kg⁻¹ protein were significantly lower than that of the other groups, whereas the same was true for plasma 3, 5, 3′-triiodothyronine level of fish fed 270 g kg⁻¹ protein. The results indicated that an increase of dietary lipid content from 40 to 70 g kg⁻¹ can enhance the growth and digestive enzyme activities of this species and reduce the proportion of dietary protein catabolized for energy without inducing hepatic steatosis; meanwhile, decreasing protein level from 350 to 310 g kg⁻¹ leads to the increase of lipase activities both in intestine and liver coupled with the reduced liver lipid content.     

Effects of dietary microencapsulated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cymbopogon flexuosus</Emphasis> essential oil on reproductive-related parameters in male <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhamdia quelen</Emphasis>

In aquaculture, nutrition and supplemented diets have been shown to affect broodstock reproductive performance. In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with Cymbopogon flexuosus essential oil (CFEO) microcapsules on reproductive-related parameters in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) male broodfish. Adult male broodstocks were separated into three groups according to the concentrations of supplemented CFEO (0.0?=?control; 1.0 or 3.0 mL per kg of diet). After 20 days under experimental conditions, the animals were euthanized and the gonads were harvested for gonadosomatic index, sperm analysis, oxidative stress, and histopathology; testosterone levels were measured in the plasma; gene expression of prl, smtl, pomca, and pomcb was assessed in the pituitary gland by real-time PCR. The results showed no alterations on reproductive parameters in R. quelen males treated with Cymbopogon flexuosus essential oil compared to the control-diet animals. In conclusion, CFEO microcapsules supplied for 20 days in the concentrations of 1.00 or 3.00 mL per kilogram of diet did not affect the reproduction criteria evaluated in this study in male silver catfish.     

Genetic parameter estimates for growth‐related traits of blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) using microsatellite‐based pedigree

Blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) is an herbivorous freshwater fish species native to China and has been recognized as a main aquaculture species in the Chinese freshwater polyculture system with high economic value. The genetic parameter estimates for important economic traits are needed for its selective breeding. The aim of this study was to estimate the heritabilities for its growth‐related traits and explore the genetic and phenotypic correlations among the traits using microsatellite‐based pedigree approach. Offspring from a mass‐spawning of 92 broodstocks (42 sires and 50 dams) were reared in a communal pond and nine microsatellites were used to identify the parents of each sampled offspring. Of 749 offspring randomly selected, 708 (94.53%) could be assigned directly to a single parental pair, which was used for heritability estimates. Data were analysed using the method of restricted maximum likelihood (REML) using animal model and the results showed that the heritabilities of body weight, body length, total length and body height were 0.65, 0.53, 0.53 and 0.50, respectively. High genetic correlations were found among these four traits. According to these results, selection for growth seems to be feasible in M. amblycephala and the other growth traits will be heightened accordingly with the selection based on body length.     

Monitoring of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Francisella noatunensis</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">orientalis</Emphasis> in farmed Nile tilapia (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis niloticus</Emphasis>) in Brazil

Francisella noatunensis orientalis is a bacterium that causes emerging bacteriosis in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in many parts of the world, including Brazil. It is a non-motile, Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, facultative intracellular coccobacillus. This species of bacteria is responsible for low to high mortality in fish farms, causing economic losses for fish farmers. This study aimed to detect the presence of F. noatunensis orientalis using qPCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction) and to describe lesions caused by the bacterium in O. niloticus in Brazilian aquaculture. For this purpose, 360 fish from six fish farms (30 per farm) were sampled at two time points (n = 180 per sampling). Necropsies and histopathology were performed for lesion observation, in addition to qPCR and sequencing for detection and identification of Francisella species. Environmental data were collected using a multiparameter sonde YSI EXO2. All measured limnological variables were within the optimum range for cultivation of Nile tilapia. The major lesions present were melanization of the skin, splenomegaly, granulomas, and inflammatory cell responses. The prevalence of francisellosis varied from 0 to 86.66% between time periods and fish farms analyzed, and an outbreak was observed during the second sampling period. This study describes the prevalence of francisellosis in O. niloticus and reports that the lesions found are not exclusively associated with this bacterial disease.