Effect of dietary inclusion of cottonseed meal on growth performance and physiological and immune responses in juvenile grass carp,Ctenopharyngodon idellus

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacement of dietary fishmeal with cottonseed meal (CSM) on the growth performance and health status of juvenile grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus (6.67 g). Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated with different CSM levels (0, 121, 241, 362, 482 and 603 g/kg diet). The first limiting amino acid was methionine, which decreased with an increase in dietary CSM from 361 to 538 g/kg. When the dietary CSM content was lower than 241 g/kg, the limiting amino acid was histidine. Thermal growth coefficient (TGC) and feed efficiency first increased and then decreased (p < 0.05), which was consistent with the change in the limiting amino acid. The feeding rate increased with a rise in the dietary CSM level (p < 0.05). The activity of digestive enzymes except trypsin decreased significantly (p < 0.05), serum aminotransferase activity and triglycerides increased, serum cholesterol decreased (p < 0.05). When dietary CSM was raised to 362 g/kg, intestinal villi and hepatopancreas tissue were injured. When the dietary CSM was 603 g/kg, alternative complement pathway haemolytic activity was inhibited (p < 0.05). The gossypol level in dorsal muscles from each treatment was below the detection limit. Based on the quadratic regression analysis of the TGC, the optimal dietary CSM level was 175.9 g/kg, and the maximum could be up to 351.8 g/kg and still result in the same TGC as that of control group.     

不同菜粕水平对草鱼生长、血清生化指标和毒素残留的影响

为考察不同菜粕水平（0～50．0％）对草鱼生长、饲料利用、血清生化指标和毒素残留的影响。对不同体重的草鱼（初始平均体重约5．0g和18．7g）分别进行了8周的饲养试验,结果表明：随着菜粕水平的升高,不同体重的草鱼增重率、特定生长率、饲料转化率、蛋白质效率均有所下降,但在0、10．0％、20．0％和30．0％组没有显著差异;草鱼（初始平均体重约5．0g）肌肉和肝脏中硫代葡萄糖甙、嚷唑烷硫酮和异硫氰酸盐的含量随饲料中菜粕水平的升高而升高;不同菜粕水平对草鱼（初始平均体重约18．7g）血清中的谷草转氨酶、谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶／谷丙转氨酶、总蛋白、白蛋白、球蛋白、白蛋白／球蛋白、尿素氮、血糖、肌肝、B和T3／T4均无显著影响,而对T4和T3＋T4有显著影响,并且对肝脏细胞有不同程度的损害。通过两个试验的研究认为草鱼幼鱼饲料中菜籽粕用量以少于30．0％为宜。     

不同月份养殖草鱼幼鱼消化道微生物群落动态变化研究

为了评估草鱼消化道微生物群落结构在草鱼食性转化后的变动情况,实验对食性转换完成后的草鱼消化道微生物群落结构进行了PCR-DGGE分析。结果显示,不同月份采集草鱼消化道微生物群落结构存在明显差异(Monte Carlo检验,A:F=3.41,P=0.002;B:F=3.58,P=0.002),而被广泛认为影响宿主消化道微生物群落结构的宿主大小、丰满度等因素则在短期内并没有发现会对草鱼消化道微生物群落结构产生影响。实验表明,短期内环境因素可能是造成草鱼消化道微生物群落结构变动的主要因素。本实验结果将为深入阐述草鱼消化道微生物群落结构的变化规律、消化道益生菌的作用机理、消化道微生物群落结构变动与草鱼疾病的关系等问题积累基础材料。     

饲料中添加生物素对草鱼幼鱼生长、体成分和血清生化指标的影响

在纯化饲料中分别添加生物素0、0.05、0.10、0.20、0.40、0.80、1.60 mg/kg投喂初始质量为(5.92±0.25)g的草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)幼鱼8周,研究了不同生物素添加量对草鱼幼鱼生长性能、饲料系数、机体营养成分、血清生化指标的影响。试验结果显示:与对照组相比,添加生物素提高了草鱼幼鱼的增重率、特定生长率,降低了饲料系数。添加量为0.40 mg/kg时草鱼幼鱼的特定生长率和增重率最大,饲料系数最低,并与对照组存在显著差异(P<0.05);添加不同水平生物素对草鱼幼鱼全鱼水分、粗蛋白、粗脂肪含量无显著影响,但添加量为0.40 mg/kg时粗蛋白含量最大。0.10 mg/kg组和0.20 mg/kg组的全鱼灰分含量显著高于对照组(P<0.05);添加生物素对血清总蛋白(TP)、血糖(GLU)和总胆固醇(TC)无显著影响,但显著提高了血清甘油三酯(TG)含量,各添加组TG含量均显著高于对照组(P<0.05),1.60 mg/kg添加组的高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)含量显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。综合本试验结果,草鱼幼鱼饲料中生物素适宜添加量为0.40 mg/kg。     

饲料中添加谷胱甘肽对草鱼生长、生理指标和抗病力的影响

选用初始体质量约8.50 g的草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idella),在56 d的饲养期中分别投喂添加5种不同剂量谷胱甘肽(GSH)(添加量分别为0 mg/kg、100 mg/kg、200 mg/kg、300 mg/kg和400 mg/kg)的试验饲料,观察GSH对草鱼生长、生理指标和抗病力的影响。结果表明,饲料中添加GSH能够提高草鱼特定生长率、存活率和饲料效率。其中,300 mg/kg GSH组草鱼的特定生长率和400 mg/kg GSH组草鱼的存活率显著高于对照组;添加GSH各组草鱼的饲料效率均显著高于对照组,当添加量为200 mg/kg时草鱼饲料效率达到最高。与对照组相比,饲料中添加GSH的各组草鱼肝胰指数明显升高,其中200 mg/kg组达到显著水平。饲料中添加GSH能够提高血清IGF-1水平,其中300 mg/kg和400 mg/kg组显著高于对照组。与对照组相比,各实验组草鱼血液白细胞数目有不同程度升高,其中300 mg/kg和400 mg/kg组均达到显著水平。饲料中添加GSH可以提高草鱼对嗜水气单胞菌的抵抗能力,其中200 mg/kg GSH组草鱼攻毒后存活率达到最高。以特定生长率为判定指标,GSH在草鱼饲料中的适宜添加量为350 mg/kg。     

Dietary supplementation of sodium butyrate may benefit growth performance and intestinal function in juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

A 49‐days feeding trial was conducted to study the effects of sodium butyrate on growth performance, gut morphology of juvenile grass carp. Five isoenergetic and isonitrogenous experimental diets were compounded by the supplementation in the basal diet with gradient sodium butyrate at 0, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000 mg kg^?1 respectively. A total of 375 juvenile grass carp (with initial body weight of 3.8 g) were randomly allocated into five diet treatments, and each treatment has three replicates. The results showed that the specific growth rate (SGR) of SB1000 and SB2000 group was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the other groups. Moreover, the lowest SGR was observed in SB3000 group. Feeding rate and the whole‐body proximate composition including moisture, crude lipid, crude protein and crude ash were not affected by sodium butyrate (P > 0.05). Total superoxide dismutase activities in hepatopancreas in the experimental groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Glutathione peroxidase activity in hepatopancreas was significantly upregulated by dietary sodium butyrate level (P < 0.05). However, the activity of total antioxidant capacity and the contents of malondialdehyde were not significantly different among groups. The expression levels of mRNA encoding PepT1 and LAT2 in the foregut both showed a first increasing and then decreasing tendency as dietary sodium butyrate level increased (P < 0.05), and peaked in SB1000 and SB2000 groups respectively. The results indicated that appropriate dietary supplementation of sodium butyrate at 2000 mg kg^?1 could improve the growth, antioxidant ability and intestinal absorption capacity of the juvenile grass carp.     

饲料中添加不同水平的维生素D3对草鱼幼鱼生长和体成分的影响

本文以酪蛋白和脱脂豆粕为蛋白源,糊精为糖源,玉米油和豆油为脂肪源的半纯化饲料为基础饲料,研究维生素D3对草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)幼鱼生长及体成分的影响。维生素D3共设0,100,200,500,1000,2000,3000 IU/kg 7个添加梯度,每一梯度设3个重复,每个重复放养60尾初始体质量(3.86±0.34)g的草鱼,在(26.9±3)℃的流水系统中养殖8周。结果显示:维生素D3对草鱼幼鱼增重率、特定生长率、饲料系数、存活率、体水分、粗蛋白质、粗脂肪含量和血清钙浓度没有显著性影响(P>0.05);对照组和添加100 IU/kg维生素D3的试验组中,草鱼幼鱼的粗灰分显著低于其它试验组(P<0.05);与对照组相比,饲料中添加维生素D3对全鱼钙磷含量、血清磷离子浓度以及碱性磷酸酶活性影响显著(P<0.05)。根据维生素D3对全鱼钙磷含量的影响,草鱼幼鱼饲料中维生素D3适宜的添加量为1000 IU/kg。     

饲料中添加复合芽孢杆菌对草鱼消化道酶活性及肠道菌群的影响

用含复合芽孢杆菌(105cfu/g饲料,枯草芽孢杆菌和解淀粉芽孢杆菌以1∶1比例混合)的基础日粮,按体重3%的日投饵量,饲喂体重(51.37±0.58)g的草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus),饲养实验45 d。结果表明:与对照组相比,处理组肠道内容物胰蛋白酶活性提高了79.46%(P<0.01);肝胰腺脂肪酶活性提高了16.82%(P<0.01),肝胰腺淀粉酶和胰蛋白酶活性无显著差异(P>0.05)。肠道菌群数量分析显示,处理组肠道芽孢杆菌数均显著提高(P<0.01),弧菌和大肠杆菌数显著降低(P<0.01)。结果提示,饵料中添加复合芽孢杆菌能够改善草鱼肠道菌群组成,并提高消化道特定消化酶活性。     

Effects of dietary selenium on growth performance and oxidative stress in juvenile grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idellus

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary selenium (Se) on feed intake, weight gain and antioxidant activity in juvenile grass carp (11.2 ± 0.03 g). Six Se levels (0.13, 0.41, 0.56, 1.12, 2.18 and 4.31 mg/kg) of semi‐purified diets were assayed in triplicate. The maximum weight gain, specific growth rate and feed intake were obtained in fish fed with 1.12 mg Se/kg diet. Hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity was markedly increased when dietary Se ≤1.12 mg/kg diet and reached a plateau when dietary Se ≥1.12 mg/kg diet. Hepatic superoxide dismutase and serum catalase activities in juvenile grass carp fed with 0.56, 1.12 and 2.18 mg Se/kg diets were all significantly higher than those in the other groups. The malondialdehyde content in liver and serum was firstly decreased and then increased with increasing dietary Se content, and the lowest content was observed in fish fed with 1.12 mg Se/kg diet. With the increase in Se level, the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were reduced. In addition, serum alkaline phosphatase activity and albumin content were highest in fish fed with 1.12 mg Se/kg diet. This study indicated that both the Se deficiency and excess of Se caused negative effect on the oxidative stress in juvenile grass carp and suggested that the health‐giving concentration of dietary inorganic Se was 1.12 mg/kg diet. Moreover, based on the broken‐line regression analysis of weight gain, the optimal concentration of dietary inorganic Se was 0.83 mg/kg for juvenile grass carp.     

Effect of replacing soybean meal with cottonseed meal on growth, hematology, antioxidant enzymes activity and expression for juvenile grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with cottonseed meal (CSM) on growth and health of grass carp. Four isonitrogenous diets containing 0, 16.64, 32.73 and 48.94% of CSM, respectively, as replacements of 0, 35, 68 and 100% of SBM were fed to fish (initial body weight 7.14 ± 0.75 g/fish) in triplicate aquaria twice daily. The results indicated that fish fed diet containing 16.64% CSM as a replacement of 35% of SBM was not affected in weight gain (WG), feed efficiency ratio (FER) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P>0.05), while fish fed diets containing higher level of dietary CSM (32.73 and 48.94%) significantly decreased WGand PER and significantly increased FCR (P<0.05). Fish fed diets containing 16.64% of CSM had significantly increased hematocrit (Ht) and hemoglobin (Hb) values compared with fish fed with other diets (P<0.05). The activity of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), gene expression levels of GSH-Px and CAT, and content of malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly lower for fish fed diets containing 16.64% CSM compared with fish fed other diets (P<0.05). These results showed 16.64% CSM could be used to replace 35% SBM in the diets of juvenile grass carp and without health impact.     

Effects of dietary glutamine supplementation on growth performance,antioxidant status and intestinal function in juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Glutamine (Gln) is a conditionally essential free amino acid that has been widely used in aquaculture. The present study showed that appropriate levels of dietary Gln could significantly improve growth performance and increase lipase and trypsin activity, mucosal thickness (MT) and the number of lymphocytes. The levels of glycine (Gly) in the 6 g/kg Gln group, threonine (Thr) in the 12 g/kg group and lysine (Lys) in the 6 and 9 g/kg group were increased significantly, while glutamate (Glu) and serine (Ser) concentrations decreased significantly with increasing dietary Gln levels from 3 to 12 g/kg. Moreover, the 12 g/kg dietary Gln level could improve the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐PX) and the total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC). In addition, 3 g/kg Gln upregulated the gene expression of aminopeptidase N (APN), caudal‐related homeobox gene (CDX2), L‐type amino acid transporter 2 (LAT2), oligopeptide transporter 1 (PEPT1), specificity proteins 1 (SP1) and 3 (SP3), and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α (PPAR‐α) but downregulated PPAR‐γ gene expression compared to that in the control group. Taken together, these findings suggest that Gln could improve the growth performance, antioxidant status and intestinal function of grass carp.     

饲料中添加谷胱甘肽对草鱼组织中谷胱甘肽沉积和抗氧化能力的影响

在基础饲料中分别添加还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)至0 mg/kg、100 mg/kg、200 mg/kg、300 mg/kg、400 mg/kg和500 mg/kg,分别投喂草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idella)幼鱼8周,草鱼幼鱼体质量(4.09±0.01)g,观察GSH在草鱼组织中沉积以及对草鱼抗氧化功能的影响.结果表明,饲料中添加外源GSH对草鱼生长影响不显著(P＞0.05),实验组肌肉中GSH含量显著高于对照组(P＜0.05),肝脏中GSH含量在GSH添加水平为200 mg/kg时显著高于对照组(P＜0.05),肝脏和肌肉中丙二醛(MDA)在GSH添加水平为300 mg/kg组达到最低,显著低于对照组(P＜0.05).添加GSH对血清中GSH和MDA影响不显著(P＞0.05).草鱼肝脏中谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活力在400 mg/kg组显著高于对照组(P＜0.05),肌肉中GR活力有增高趋势但差异不显著(P＞0.05);肝脏和肌肉中γ-谷氨酰转移酶(γ-GT)均高于对照组,分别在300 mg/kg组和200 mg/kg组达到显著水平(P＜0.05);肝脏中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-PX)活力、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)能力不同程度升高,均在200 mg/kg组达到最高,显著高于对照组(P＜0.05);血清GSH-PX活力和T-AOC有增高趋势但与对照组差异不显著(P＞0.05);血清和肝脏中活性氧(ROS)含量分别在400 mg/kg和300 mg/kg组达到最低,显著低于对照组(P＜0.05).结果提示,饲料中添加GSH能够促进草鱼肝脏和肌肉中GSH的沉积,提高肝脏及肌肉中GR和γ-GT活力,以及肝脏中GSH-PX和SOD活力与总抗氧化能力,减少肝脏中MDA含量,降低肝脏及血清中ROS含量,因此GSH在水产饲料中具有广泛的应用前景.     

Effect of replacing dietary fish meal with black soldier fly larvae meal on growth and fatty acid composition of Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian)

To explore the effect of replacing dietary fish meal (FM) with black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal (BSFLM) on growth and body composition of Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian), the FM in basal diet of Jian carp was replaced by 0, 35, 70, 105 and 140 g/kg BSFLM respectively to form five isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets. A total of 300 Jian carp (10.1 ± 1.6 g) were randomly divided into five groups (triplicate per group) and fed five diets, respectively. After 56 days of feeding, growth and body composition of fish were determined. Results showed that serum maleic dialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, 18:1n‐9, 18:2n‐6, 20:5n‐3 and 22:6n‐3 in fish significantly decreased and 12:0, 14:0 and 16:0 significantly increased with increasing replacement of BSFLM. The growth, biological parameters, proximate composition, amino acid composition and serum biochemical parameters of Jian carp were not affected by the replacement of BSFLM. In conclusion, up to 140 g/kg BSFLM (100% replacement of FM) can be included in diets of Jian carp without unfavourable effects on growth while decreasing n‐3 highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) composition in body of fish, suggesting that BSFLM could be used after nutrient enrichment with n‐3 HUFA to bring active effects on fish quality.     

饲料中添加丁酸钠对草鱼生长、消化酶活性、血清生化指标和肠道组织学的影响

为了探究饲料中补充不同水平丁酸钠对草鱼生长性能、肠道消化酶活性、血清生化指标和肠道组织形态的影响,分别添加0 mg/kg (SB0)、1 000 mg/kg (SB1)、2 000 mg/kg(SB2)和3 000 mg/kg (SB3)的微囊丁酸钠(含50%丁酸钠)至基础饲料中,设计4组等氮等脂的实验饲料。选取300尾体质健康的草鱼(10.0±0.1) g,分成4组,每组3个重复,每个重复25尾鱼,放置在水泥池中养殖8周。结果显示,各组草鱼增重率为273.7%～279.9%,饲料系数为1.55～1.60,饲料中补充丁酸钠对草鱼生长性能和体成分无显著影响。与对照组相比,添加不同水平的丁酸钠均显著提高了肠道蛋白酶活性和血清超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性,降低了血清谷草转氨酶(AST)活性,SB1组血清碱性磷酸酶(AKP)活性显著升高,而SB2和SB3组血清谷丙转氨酶(ALT)活性显著降低。各组肠道淀粉酶活性、血清酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、甘油三酯(TG)、葡萄糖(GLU)、总蛋白(TP)和D-乳酸(D-LA)无显著差异。在肠道组织学方面,各丁酸钠补充组肠道绒毛高度和SB1、SB2组肌层厚度显著...     

The effect of dietary bamboo charcoal supplementation on growth and serum biochemical parameters of juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

This study investigated the effect of dietary bamboo charcoal (BC) supplementation on the growth performance and health status of juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). A 63‐day feeding trial was carried out wherein the carp were reared on diets containing increasing levels of BC (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 4%). Treatment with BC did not produce any obvious effect (p > .05) on the growth performance of the juvenile common carp and on the overall muscle fatty acid composition. However, significant improvements (p < .05) were reported on serum indicators such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein (TP), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and glucose (GLU) with the 4% inclusion level producing the most beneficial effects without adversely affecting some of the indices that were not improved at this level. Improvements were further observed in the intestinal villus length and goblet cells numbers at 4% supplementation. Although some evidence of potential toxicity exists, the overall findings of this study suggest that supplementation of common carp diets with 4% BC has a potential to enhance serum biochemical indices, intestinal functions and fatty acid content in common carp. Furthermore, while no positive effects were observed on the growth performance and total muscle fatty acid composition, no adverse effects were reported on these parameters. Therefore, BC has the potential to be used as a feed additive in the diets of juvenile common carp to improve health status and intestinal function.     

Effects of dietary glutamate supplementation on growth performance,digestive enzyme activities and antioxidant capacity in intestine of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

A 56‐day feeding trial was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary glutamate (Glu) supplementation on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities and intestinal antioxidant capacity of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). A total of 540 grass carp with average initial weight of 370 ± 3.8 g were fed three diets supplemented with 0, 8 and 16 g kg^?1 Glu. The per cent weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and protein and lipid productive value were significantly improved by dietary Glu supplementation. Feed intake, condition factor, visceral somatic index and perivisceral fat ratio were not significantly different between dietary groups. Hepatosomatic index, intestinal somatic index, intestine length index, intestine protein content, trypsin activity in hepatopancreas and intestine, lipase activity in proximal and mid‐intestine (MI) and hepatopancreas, alkaline phosphatase and gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase activities in intestine, creatine kinase activities in the mid‐ and distal intestine, intestinal folds height in the proximal and MI were significantly increased with increased Glu. Malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl contents in the intestine decreased with increased Glu. Superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical scavenging ability, glutathione reducase, catalase and total superoxide dismutase activities, and glutathione content in the intestine were increased with increased Glu. These results suggested that dietary Glu supplementation increased intestinal antioxidant capacity, digestive and absorptive ability and improved fish growth.     

Impacts of diet on hindgut microbiota and short‐chain fatty acids in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

Diet is known to influence intestinal microbiota in fish, but the specifics of these impacts are still poorly understood. Different protein/fibre ratio diets may result in differing structures and activities of gut microbiota. We examined the hindgut microbiome of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) fed three different diets: fish meal (FM, high protein – low fibre), Sudan grass (SG, high fibre – low protein) and compound feed (CF, intermediate). Microbial profiles of fish fed on FM were significantly different from profiles of fish fed CF and SG (F = 18.85, p < .01). Cetobacterium, known to be positively associated with protein digestion, was the dominant microbial group in FM samples (approximately 75.7%), while Lachnospiraceae and Erysipelotrichaceae, thought to be involved in fermentation of plant polysaccharides, were dominant in CF and SG samples (46.8% and 42.9% respectively). Network analyses indicated that the abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Erysipelotrichaceae was in a significantly positive correlation (r = .895, p = .001). Short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels may indicate that the digestibility of diet by microbiota in the grass carp gut decreased from FM to SG (FM>CF>SG). Overall low SCFA levels indicate that hindgut fermentation probably provides a low proportion of energy requirements in grass carp.     

Growth performance,digestive and absorptive capacity of on‐growing grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) fed with graded level of dietary fibre from soybean hulls

The present research evaluated the effects of graded levels of dietary fibre on growth, digestive and absorptive capacities, and the potential underlying mechanisms in on‐growing grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Grass carp (123.00 ± 0.70 g) were fed diets with graded levels of neutral detergent fibre (NDF: 97.8, 119.0, 140.2, 159.4, 181.2 and 201.6 g/kg diet) for 60 days. Besides, a 2‐week digestion experiment was conducted to explore the effect of dietary fibre on the apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of feed. The results showed that optimum dietary fibre level (140.2 or 159.4 g/kg diet) increased feed intake, per cent weight gain, specific growth rate and the ADC of dietary protein (p < .05); increased the activities of digestive and brush border enzyme; and up‐regulated intestinal amino acid transporter mRNA levels (SLC1A5 and SLC6A19b, p < .05) partially associated with activation of TOR signalling pathway. However, high dietary fibre levels (NDF levels ≥181.2 g/kg diet) were not conducive to the digestion and absorption of nutrients, resulting in the decline of growth performance. Thus, based on the quadratic regression analysis for per cent weight gain and feed efficiency, the optimum (143.9 and 134.5 g/kg diet) and maximum tolerance (189.8 and 171.2 g/kg diet) levels of dietary NDF were estimated for on‐growing grass carp.     

Effect of dietary bile acids on growth,body composition,lipid metabolism and microbiota in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

To investigate the effects of dietary bile acids (BA) on growth and metabolism of lipid in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella, C. idella) at high dietary lipid level, a basal diet (50 g kg^–1 lipid, 5L group) was supplemented with 20 g kg^–1 soybean oil (70 g kg^–1 lipid, 7L group); then, 0.06 g/kg BA was added in 7L diet to form the third diet (7L+BA group). The 96 C. idella (69.86 ± 6.24 g) were divided into three groups (duplicate per group) and fed three diets, respectively, for 8 weeks, and then, growth and lipid metabolism were determined. Results showed that growth of fish in 7L+BA group was significantly higher than 5L and 7L groups. The lipid level in whole body, hepatopancreas and muscle of grass carp in 7L+BA group were significantly lower than 7L group. Relative expression of lipid catabolism genes in hepatopancreas and muscle of 7L+BA group was significantly higher than 5L group. The amount of microbiota in intestine of fish in 7L+BA group was significantly higher than the other two groups. The present results indicated that BA in 7L diet improved growth of fish by increasing protein synthesizing, decreasing lipid content in fish body and by regulating amount of microbiota in intestine of fish.     

The effects of dietary marine protein hydrolysates on the development of sea bass larvae,Dicentrarchus labrax,and associated microbiota

Protein hydrolysate is an essential component of dry starter diets for fish larvae, as promoting healthy development. Peptides are also suitable substrates for many intestinal microbes. Five experimental diets were compared to a control diet (CONT) supplemented with a commercial fish protein hydrolysate. Each diet contained one marine protein hydrolysate, which differed by the proportion of di‐ and tri‐peptides, and by raw materials. Two diets (HYD4 and HYD5) stimulated larval growth compared with CONT. Two other diets (HYD1 and HYD2) yielded inferior growth. HYD1 was detrimental for survival, which was associated with an up‐regulation of genes involved in inflammation and antioxidative responses, while the gene coding for osteocalcin was down‐regulated in this group. The relative activity of enzymes in the brush border membrane of enterocytes was significantly stimulated with diets HYD3 and HYD4. Gut microbiota were influenced by the diet, but the bacterial community profiles observed with HYD3 and HYD4 were the only ones that were not significantly dissimilar. Groups HYD1 and HYD2 showed the most dissimilar microbiota. It was concluded that the nature of the marine protein hydrolysate is important for larval development and health, but a high proportion of small peptides is not a sufficient criterion to assess dietary value.