Application of different types of protein hydrolysate in high plant protein diets for juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

A 10‐week feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different types of dietary protein hydrolysate (PH) on growth performance, body composition, trypsin activity and serum transaminase of juvenile turbot. Four high plant protein diets contained different types of PH, fish PH (FPH), yeast PH (YPH), pig blood PH (PBPH) and soy PH (SPH), replacing 10% fishmeal of the basal diet. The basal diet with 30% fishmeal and no PH was used as the control diet (C). Each diet was assigned to triplicate groups of 30 fish. The specific growth rate (SGR) was not significantly different between groups C and FPH, but groups C and FPH showed significantly higher SGR than other groups. The feed efficiency ratio (FER) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were not significantly different among groups C, FPH and YPH, but groups PBPH and SPH showed significantly lower FER and PER than groups C and FPH. Group PBPH showed significantly higher hepatosomatic index than other groups except YPH. Fish fed YPH showed significantly lower whole‐body protein content, but significantly higher whole‐body lipid content than fish fed diets C, FPH and PBPH. The activities of serum GOT and GPT in group PBPH were higher than those in groups C, FPH and YPH. These results suggested that when used at a low level in high plant protein diets for juvenile turbot, FPH is a good alternative protein source and YPH also has the application potential, but PBPH and SPH can cause negative impacts on fish growth and health.     

The effects of dietary Eucommia ulmoides Oliver on growth,feed utilization,antioxidant activity and immune responses of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary Eucommia ulmoides (EU) on growth, feed utilization, antioxidant activity and immune responses of turbot fed a basal diet (CON) or EU‐supplemented diets with 5.0 g/kg (EU1), 10.0 g/kg (EU2) and 20.0 g/kg (EU3) EU leaf powder. After 70‐day trial, EU supplementation did not affect nutrient utilization, but reduced feed intake (FI) and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish at doses above 5.0 g/kg. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) activities in the EU‐supplemented groups were significantly higher than those in the control group at a dose of 20.0 g/kg. Significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were observed in EU‐supplemented groups at doses over 5.0 g/kg. Furthermore, fish fed 20.0 g/kg EU showed the highest lysozyme (LZM) activity among groups. The EU‐supplemented diets with doses above 5.0 g/kg significantly enhanced the mRNA expressions of cytokines. The expression level of major histocompatibility complex II alpha (MHC IIα) was significantly upregulated compared to that of the control fish when the supplemental level was at 20.0 g/kg. Taken together, the present study indicated that the EU could remarkably enhance the antioxidant activity, non‐specific immunity and maintain an active immune response in turbot.     

1H NMR‐based metabolomics studies on the effect of size‐fractionated fish protein hydrolysate,fish meal and plant protein in diet for juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.)

This study was designed to evaluate changes in the metabolic profile of liver and muscle of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) fed fishmeal‐based diet, diets containing size‐fractionated fish protein hydrolysate and plant protein‐based diet using ¹H NMR‐based metabolomics approach combined with the growth. Fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) was obtained by enzymatic treatment, permeate fraction was obtained as UF by ultrafiltered step, and retentate fraction was retained as RF. FM diet contained fish meal used as a single protein source. Four other diets (PP, UF, FPH and RF) contained 180 g kg^?1 diet fish meal. 54, 55 and 55 g kg^?1 dry diet UF, FPH and RF were supplemented to UF, FPH and RF diets. All diets were formulated to be isolipidic and isonitrogenous fed to five triplicate groups of turbot (16.05 ± 0.03 g) for 68 days. O‐PLS‐DA in FM versus UF, FM versus FPH, FM versus RF and FM versus PP resulted in a reliable model for muscle and liver tissue, while O‐PLS‐DA in UF versus FPH and UF versus RF only showed metabolites changes in liver tissue. Results indicated that metabolite changes among the different treatments were consistent with the growth tendency.     

Effect of dietary fish protein hydrolysate on growth,feed utilization and IGF‐I levels of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of fish protein hydrolysate on growth performance, insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) levels and the expression levels of liver IGF‐I mRNA in juvenile Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Fish hydrolysate was produced by enzymatic (alcalase and flavourzyme) treatment and size‐fractionated by ultrafiltration. The permeate after ultrafiltration (UF) and the non‐ultrafiltered fish hydrolysate were tested as feed ingredients using high plant protein diets. Fish meal was used in the control diet (FM). The feeding trial lasted for 60 days, and fish fed with 37 g kg^?1 UF showed the best growth, feed efficiency, digestibility and protein utilization. Plasma IGF‐I level was examined with radioimmunoassay, and the expression levels of liver IGF‐I mRNA were evaluated using real‐time PCR normalized against the 18S rRNA gene. Plasma IGF‐I levels were significantly increased by inclusion of fish protein hydrolysate. Liver IGF‐I mRNA expression was significantly higher in fish fed with 37 g kg^?1 UF diet than fish fed with control diet. The results indicated that small molecular weight compounds from fish protein hydrolysate showed a positive effect on growth and feed utilization in juvenile Japanese flounder. Dietary fish protein hydrolysate could improve plasma IGF‐I levels and liver IGF‐I mRNA expression in Japanese flounder.     

Taurine alone or in combination with fish protein hydrolysate affects growth performance,taurine transport and metabolism in juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.)

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of taurine (Tau) alone or in combination with fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) on growth performance, the expression of Tau transporter (TauT) and metabolic profile in juvenile turbot. FM, FPH0, FPH0+T, FPH10 and FPH10+T diets, respectively, contained 300, 150, 150, 80, and 80 g/kg fishmeal. FPH10 and FPH10+T diets contained 62 g/kg FPH. FPH0+T and FPH10+T diets were, respectively, prepared by supplementing the FPH0 and FPH10 diet formulations with 8 g/kg Tau. Specific growth rate was the highest in FM group and the lowest in FPH10 group. TauT mRNA levels in fish fed Tau supplemented diets were significantly lower than that in Tau unsupplemented diets. NMR‐based metabolomics analysis showed that Tau contents in liver of FPH0+T and FPH10+T were significantly higher than that of FM, FPH0 and FPH10. In muscle, Tau contents were significantly decreased in the FPH10+T versus FPH0 and the FPH10+T versus FPH10 comparisons. In conclusion, 62 g/kg FPH to replace fishmeal may not affect Tau synthesis, transport and metabolism. However, Tau supplemented alone or in combination with a certain level of FPH could reduce the requirement for Tau synthesis and transport and increased Tau levels in muscle and liver.     

Influence of 5′‐inosine monophosphate and 5′‐guanosine monophosphate on growth,feed digestibility and activity of digestive enzymes in turbot Scophthalmus maximus

We evaluated the influence of different proportions of 5′‐inosine monophosphate (IMP) and 5′‐guanosine monophosphate (GMP) on growth, feed digestibility and activity of digestive enzymes of turbot Scophthalmus maximus. Weight gain and daily feed intake were significantly higher in S. maximus fed with IMP or GMP, in comparison with fish fed with neither IMP nor GMP. The growth of 0.05% IMP + 0.05% GMP group was the best, and the intestinal digestive function was improved. The addition of IMP and GMP to fish diets significantly increased the apparent feed digestibility coefficient of dry matter and protein, as well as intestinal protease activity. The highest intestinal protease activity was observed in fish fed with 1 g/kg IMP. However, the lipase activity in hepatopancreas decreased significantly after addition of nucleic acid. According to our results, the optimal level of dietary IMP is 1 g/kg, which is in line with most of the growth performance and feed digestibility.     

Study of the distribution of active caspase‐3‐positive cells in turbot,Scophthalmus maximus (L.), enteromyxosis

Enteromyxosis caused by Enteromyxum scophthalmi is one of the parasitizations with a higher economic impact on turbot, Scophthalmus maximus (L.), aquaculture. This myxosporean produces severe catarrhal enteritis with abundant inflammatory infiltrates in the lamina propria‐submucosa (LP), epithelial detachment and leucocyte depletion of the lymphohaematopoietic organs. Some advances made on the pathogenesis pointed to a role of apoptosis in the enteromyxosis. Therefore, the main aim of this work was to employ the TUNEL assay and the anti‐(active caspase‐3) immunohistochemical assay to detect apoptotic cells in both healthy and E. scophthalmi‐infected turbot in order to establish the presence and distribution of apoptotic cells during development of the disease. More apoptotic cells located within the gastrointestinal epithelium were observed in the initial stages of the infection in E. scophthalmi‐infected turbot compared with non‐infected turbot. As the infection progressed, a higher degree of apoptosis occurred in the epithelium of folds heavily parasitized. In the severely infected turbot, apoptosis was also found among the leucocytes of the intestinal inflammatory infiltrates. Moreover, the number of active caspase‐3‐positive cells in the lymphohaematopoietic organs tended to increase with disease severity. In view of the results, increased apoptosis in the epithelium may favour the scaling that occurs during enteromyxosis and cell death of leucocytes in the intestinal LP, contributing to leucocyte depletion in severe cases.     

The plasticity of vision and body development of turbot Scophthalmus maximus larvae Under different light spectra

This study was aimed to find out the effect of five light spectra (white, LDW; blue, LDB; green, LDG; red, LDR and yellow, LDY) on the visual development and growth performance of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) larvae. The number (per 100 μm) of cone cells, outer nuclear cells, ganglion cells, the ratio of outer nuclear to cone and ganglion cells, lens diameter and the minimum separable angle were determined. Variations in growth performance in total length, body mass and body colour were also examined. The results showed that the LDB group underwent metamorphosis faster than did the other groups and attained the greatest total length, body mass and light sensitivity. The LDB group also completed the body colour variation prior to the other groups. The LDG group exhibited a high mortality rate since 25 dph (days post‐hatching). We arrived at the conclusions that the spectra could affect the vision and body development of turbot larvae specifically and the blue light had the enhancing efficiency during this process, followed by the white and yellow light. The red light imposed an inhibiting effect on these variations. Our study highlighted the significance of light condition and provided the reference for the farming.     

Effects of five compound attractants in high plant‐based diets on feed intake and growth performance of juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.)

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of five attractants on feed intake, growth performance and appetite‐regulating genes expression for juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.). Fish were fed with seven diets: fish‐meal‐based diet (FM), fermented soybean meal replacing 45% fish meal (FSBM) and other diets with 1% compound attractant A (CA‐A) consisting of amino acids, compound attractant B (CA‐B) consisting of quaternary ammonium bases, compound attractant C (CA‐C) consisting of nucleotides, compound attractant G (CA‐G) consisting of the combination of CA‐A, CA‐B and CA‐C and blue mussel protein hydrolysate (BMH) on the basis of FSBM diet respectively. Daily feed intake in CA‐A group was significantly higher, but that in CA‐B group was significantly lower than FSBM group. Similarly, specific growth rate was significantly enhanced in CA‐A and CA‐G groups and were significantly decreased in CA‐B group. Protein efficiency ratio and protein retention in CA‐B group were significantly lower than FSBM group. Furthermore, BMH supplement increased the mRNA expression of Ghrelin in the intestine of fish. These results showed that CA‐A and CA‐G supplement could enhance growth in plant‐based diets, but CA‐B supplement had the opposite effect, which might be associated with lower feed intake and lower feed utilization.     

Evaluating the most suitable nonlinear growth model for turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) in aquaculture 2 (weight application): Multi‐criteria model selection and growth prediction

Seeking the most suitable model to describe the growth of turbot, we analysed growth data of two different turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) strains reared communally in a recirculating aquaculture system. We fitted 10 different nonlinear growth models to individual weight gain data (n = 2,010) during the grow‐out phase. Analyses were carried out for each strain, for sexes within strains and for a pooled data set containing both strains and sexes. To assess the model performance, three different criteria are used. Further, a growth‐simulation was performed to evaluate the shape of the generated curve. This way we could assess the capability of the models to predict future growth. The 3‐parametric Gompertz model achieved the best fit in 42.9% of all cases tested and the lowest Bayesian information criterion in 100% of cases. The model produced realistically shaped curves and asymptotic values matching the biological attributes of the species. In contrast, 5‐parametric functions projected unrealistically shaped curves and predicted improbable mature sizes. Our results show that increasing number of parameters do not lead to increasing goodness of fit, but tend to result in overfitting, and demonstrate the advantages of the 3‐parametric Gompertz model for describing the growth of turbot.     

The effect of ultrafiltered fish protein hydrolysate level on growth performance,protein digestibility and mRNA expression of PepT1 in juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.)

The intention of the study was to investigate the effect of ultrafiltered fish protein hydrolysate (UF) level on growth, feed utilization, apparent digestibility coefficients and proximal intestine peptide transporter 1 (PepT1) mRNA level for juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.). Experimental diets (UF‐0, UF‐5, UF‐10, UF‐15 and UF‐20) were prepared containing about 68% plant protein, and fish meal protein was, respectively, replaced by 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% UF of dietary protein. Diet PP contained about 78% plant protein, and diet CAA contained about 10% crystalline amino acid mixture. All diets were fed to seven triplicate groups of turbot (initial weight 16.05 ± 0.03 g) for 68 days. Fish fed diet UF‐10 had an increasing tendency in growth compared with diets contained UF, while dietary UF level was not significantly correlated with specific growth rate and feed intake. Feed efficiency, protein efficiency ratio and protein productive value significantly correlated with dietary UF level, and fish fed diets contained low‐level UF had higher digestibility than that diets UF‐0, PP and CAA. There was a decreasing tendency in PepT1 expression level with dietary UF level. The results indicated that low‐level UF showed a positive effect on growth and feed utilization in juvenile turbot.     

Effect of 5′‐inosine monophosphate (IMP) and 5′‐guanosine monophosphate (GMP) on the growth,immunity and muscle composition of turbot,Scophthalmus maximus (Linnaeus, 1758)

We evaluated the effect of different concentrations of 5′‐inosine monophosphate (IMP) and 5′‐guanosine monophosphate (GMP) on the growth, immunity and muscle composition of turbot Scophthalmus maximus. Eight diets (containing no IMP or GMP, or 0.5 g/kg IMP, 1.0 g/kg IMP, 2.0 g/kg IMP, 0.5 g/kg GMP, 1.0 g/kg GMP, 2.0 g/kg GMP, or 0.5 g/kg IMP plus 0.5 g/kg GMP) were prepared. A total of 360 fish (average body weight of 105 g) were randomly selected and placed in groups into 24 plastic aquaria (8 treatments × 3 replicates × 15 individuals per plastic aquaria). The tanks were maintained at the temperature of 15 ± 2°C. The experimental diets were fed for 60 days. The specific growth rate (SGR) was significantly higher in S. maximus fed with IMP or GMP compared with fish fed neither IMP nor GMP. The highest SGR was observed in fish fed with 1.0 g/kg IMP. Supplementation with these dietary nucleotides had a positive, but not significant effect on the activity of superoxide dismutase, alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase. There was a significant difference in the moisture and crude lipid content of muscle from S. maximus fed the different diets compared with control fish. The highest moisture content was 83.44 for a diet of 0.5 g/kg IMP plus 0.5 g/kg GMP, which was also significantly higher when compared to fish fed alternative diets. The crude lipid content of S. maximus fed diets containing either IMP or GMP was significantly higher than those fed diets without IMP or GMP. Thus, according to these results, the optimal level of dietary IMP is 1.0 g/kg, which correlates with the largest increase in growth performance of S. maximus.     

Nutrient utilization in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) fed increased levels of fish protein hydrolysate during a period of fast growth

The present work was designed to study whether changes in dietary protein quality by means of partial inclusion of fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) would alter fish growth, feed utilization, protein retention and metabolism and fish health in general. FPH was produced after hydrolysing whole minced herring using the industrial enzyme Alcalase®. The dietary protein source, low‐temperature‐dried (LT) fishmeal nitrogen was exchanged with FPH nitrogen at six levels of inclusion ranging from 0 to 300 g kg^?1. The experimental diets were fed to post‐smolt (1+) Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), with mean initial weight of 174 g for a period of 68 days. All diets were iso‐nitrogenous, iso‐energetic and contained the same amount of amino acids. Fish fed medium inclusion of FPH (180–240 g kg^?1) showed a tendency to have higher feed intake than fish fed lower and higher levels of FPH inclusions. Significant higher individual specific growth rates were present in fish fed diets with 180 and 240 g kg^?1 FPH when compared with those fed 300 g kg^?1. Feed conversion ratio increased significantly (R² = 0.61) and protein efficiency ratio decreased significantly (R² = 0.59) in fish fed increased levels of FPH. Further, apparent digestibility of crude protein and the amino acids arginine, lysine, methionine and phenylalanine increased significantly with increased dietary inclusion of FPH. Plasma free amino acids, ammonium and urea indicated that FPH amino acids was absorbed earlier and nonsynchronously, and may thus be more prone to be catabolized than in those fish fed the less solubilized protein. FPH inclusion did not have an impact on fish health, as evaluated by haematology and clinical parameters.     

Growth, feed utilization and growth heterogeneity in juvenile turbot Scophthalmus maximus (Rafinesque) under different photoperiod regimes

Juvenile turbot (45 g, SE = 1.3) were reared under three photoperiods, 08L:16D, 12L:12D and 20L:04D at slightly elevated ambient temperature for Ireland. Over the 297‐day experimental period, the overall growth rate of the 12L:12D (0.82% d^?1) treatment was higher than for both 08L:16D (0.80% d^?1) and 20L:04D (0.77% d^?1). Overall relative feed intake (FI = % consumption*day^?1) was higher for the 20L:04D (FI = 0.81% d^?1, SE = 0.06) treatment than for the 08L:16D (0.63% d^?1, 0.04) and 12L:12D (0.64% d^?1 0.04) treatments, whereas feed conversion efficiency (FCE = weight gain* consumption^?1) was lower in the 20L:04D (FCE = 0.67, SE = 0.08) group when compared with the 08L:16D (0.88, 0.06) and 12L:12D (0.88, 0.06) treatments. Present results show that the long‐term extended fixed photoperiod may act as an irritant, inducing stress, suppressing growth and reducing feed utilization. It is hypothesized that the progression of size‐dependent hierarchies over time can be divided into two distinct phases herein referred to as ‘hierarchy resolution’ and ‘hierarchy stabilization’ phases (or phases 1 and 2) characterized by increasing and decreasing growth heterogeneity respectively. Growth heterogeneity is measured as coefficient of variation of weight and rank correlation of initial weight of a phase and corresponding growth rate.     

Water quality and nitrogen budget in turbot Scophthalmus maximus culture system supplemented with lactic acid bacteria

To understand the nutrient utilization efficiency and distribution in indoor fish culture system under treatment of probiotics, this study examined water quality and nitrogen budget in turbot Scophthalmus maximus culture system supplemented with four strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from fishery products. The results showed that the concentration of ammonia nitrogen (NH?‐N) and nitrite nitrogen (NO?‐N) in LAB treatments were all significantly lower (p < 0.05) than in the control group. The nitrate nitrogen (NO?‐N) in LAB treatments showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) compared with control group. The fish feed and water exchange accounted for 79.07% and 17.02% of total N input respectively. For N output, the drainage and residual diets in LAB treatment accounted for 24.50%–25.80% and 1.33%–1.60% respectively, and they were significantly lower than in the control group (27.60% and 2.20% respectively). Fish growth and lost N in LAB treatments accounted for 27.10%–30.50% and 11.00%–18.50% respectively, and they were both significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in the control group (22.30% and 5.30% respectively). The results indicated that the indigenous LAB strains were capable of improving fish growth, and reducing NH?‐N and NO?‐N level (at concentration of 10⁵ cfu/ml) by directly adding in S. maximus culture water. Moreover, specific strains of LAB may increase nitrogen loss by promoting denitrification process in culture system.     

Effect of an immunostimulating alginate on protein turnover of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) larvae

High densities of marine larvae are often associated with microbial problems, mostly caused by opportunistic pathogens, resulting in poor growth and mass mortalities. The early life stages of fish have a very limited immune defence system. Therefore stimulation of non-specific immune mechanisms in fish larvae might be a very interesting tool. The present study evaluates the effects of a known immunostimulant on protein turnover in larval turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). Protein turnover and food intake was determined at day 13 using a time course after feeding the larvae with ¹⁵N-labelled rotifers. Turbot larvae fed with rotifers enriched with the immunostimulant FMI at first feeding had significantly higher fractional rates of protein synthesis when compared to a control group. This resulted in three-fold higher protein turnover in the larvae given the immunostimulant compared to the control group. Food intake, larval size and survival at the end of the experiment were similar in the two treatments. The effect of FMI in increasing protein turnover probably imply a higher larval viability and survival in case of environmental/disease stress. However, protein turnover is costly, and this may cause a trade-off between fast growth and stress-resistance/survival in fish larvae.     

The effect of ultrafiltered fish protein hydrolysate levels on the liver and muscle metabolic profile of juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) by 1H NMR‐based metabolomics studies

A ¹H NMR‐based metabolomics approach was to explore the effect of ultrafiltered fish protein hydrolysate (UF) levels on the liver and muscle metabolic profile of juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.). Fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) was produced from by‐products by enzymatic treatment, and UF was obtained by diluting FPH followed filtration. Fish were fed diets containing fish meal protein, which was, respectively, replaced by UF protein 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 g kg^?1 of dietary total protein (UF‐0, UF‐5, UF‐10, UF‐15 and UF‐20) for 68 days. OPLS‐DA of liver and muscle showed that high levels of UF in diets may lead to corresponding tissue metabolites changes. In liver tissue, changing metabolites included dimethylamine, N,N‐dimethylglycine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, arginine and alanine and were mainly involved in choline metabolism and amino acid metabolism. For muscle tissue, changing metabolites included lactate, alanine, proline, fumarate, tyrosine, histidine, cystathionine and taurine. And the metabolites were mainly involved in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, proline metabolism and taurine metabolism. ¹H NMR‐based metabolomics is a useful approach to investigate different levels of UF on metabolic profile in liver and muscle tissues combined with the growth.     

Effects of ammonia exposure on stress and immune response in juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ammonia exposure on stress and immune response in turbot. The species was exposed to five total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentrations: 0 (control), 1, 5, 20 and 40 mg L^?1 for 96 h. After 0, 24, 48 and 96 h of exposure, blood samples were collected to measure the levels of corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, growth hormone (GH), lysozyme (LZM), complement 3 (C3), complement 4 (C4) and immunoglobulinM (IgM); liver samples were taken to analyse oxidative stress parameters (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; glutathione, GSH; malondialdehyde, MDA), and gene expression of heat shock proteins (HSP 70 and HSP 90) and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1). The results showed that exposure to higher concentrations of TAN (20 and/or 40 mg L^?1) enhanced the levels of CRH, ACTH and cortisol and attenuated the levels of GH, LZM, C3, C4 and IgM in plasma of turbot after 48 and 96 h. In liver, TAN (20 and/or 40 mg L^?1) apparently increased the activities of antioxidative enzymes (SOD and CAT), mRNA levels of HSP (HSP 70 and 90) and formation of MDA, decreased the content of GSH and mRNA levels of IGF‐1 after 48 and 96 h of exposure. Overall, our results suggested that high ammonia exposure caused activation of hypothalamic–pituitary–interrenal axis, inhibition of GH/IGF axis and immunity, and occurrence of oxidative stress.     

Effect of growth hormone transgenic Synechocystis on growth, feed efficiency, muscle composition, haematology and histology of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.)

The present study investigated the effect of supplementing feed with transgenic Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 containing the Paralichthys olivaceus growth hormone (GH) gene on growth, feed intake and feed efficiency ratio, muscle composition, haematology and histology of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.). At the end of the 40‐day feeding trial, the specific growth rate of fish fed the supplemented feed with 1.0% transgenic Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 was 21.67% higher (P<0.05) than that of control fish. Although body weight and feed efficiency ratio significantly increased (P<0.05) in fish fed the diet supplemented with transgenic alga, feed intake and condition factor of the experimental fish were unaffected. Muscle composition analysis showed that the protein content was positively influenced by the transgenic alga, whereas the lipid content was unaffected. Haematological parameters, including red blood cell, white blood cell, haemoglobin, and serum biochemical indices, such as enzyme activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, concentrations of total protein, glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, triglyceride and cholesterol and ion levels of K, Na, Cl, P were not influenced by supplementing the transgenic Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. Furthermore, no histopathological alterations were induced by transgenic alga treatment in the stomach, intestine, liver, spleen and kidney of the experimental fish. The results of the present study indicated that transgenic Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 containing P. olivaceus GH gene is an efficient growth promoter and a safe feed additive for fish.     

Fish protein hydrolysate affected amino acid absorption and related gene expressions of IGF‐1/AKT pathways in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

The effects of fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) on growth, peptide and amino acid (AA) transporters, postprandial free AA and related gene expression of IGF‐1/AKT pathway were evaluated in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). Three diets were formulated to contain the same low level of fishmeal; meanwhile 0, 45 and 180 g/kg FPH were, respectively, supplemented to the FF (FPH‐free), FL (FPH‐Low) and FH (FPH‐High) diets. Fish fed the FH diet improved the growth compared with the other groups. For peptide and AA transporters, PepT1, B⁰AT1, CAT1 and PAT1 mRNA levels in proximal or distal intestine decreased in fish fed the FH diet. The concentration of free total essential AAs in serum was higher in the FH treatment than that in the FF treatment at 2 and 6 hr after feeding. For IGF‐1/AKT pathway in muscle, IGF‐1, 4E‐BP1 and FoxO1 mRNA levels were the highest in the FH group, whereas IGF‐1R mRNA levels were the highest expression level in the FF group. In conclusion, down‐regulated AAs transport, alleviated the delayed postprandial peak of serum‐free AAs and increased muscle protein synthesis were observed to improve the growth when turbot was fed high FPH level diets containing a high plant protein.