The effects of dietary fermented wheat bran polysaccharides on mucosal and serum immune parameters,hepatopancreas antioxidant indicators,and immune-related gene expression of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) juveniles

Aquaculture research has focused on polysaccharides as they are among the most promising new-generation immunostimulant used to control aquatic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of fermented wheat bran polysaccharides (FWBPs) on juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Carps were fed different FWBP amounts (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.4%) for 8 weeks and then their skin mucus and serum immune parameters, hepatopancreas antioxidant indicators, and immune-related gene expression in the intestines, kidneys, and spleen were measured. The skin mucus IgM levels significantly increased in 0.1% FWBP group, but decreased in 0.4% FWBP group. The skin mucus protease and the serum alkaline phosphatase activities increased significantly in the 0.2%, 0.1%, and 0.4% FWBP groups, respectively. The serum total Ig levels increased noticeably in the 0.1% and 0.2% FWBP groups. The highest and lowest serum lysozyme activities were observed in the 0.1% and 0.4% FWBP groups, respectively. The hepatopancreatic total superoxide dismutase activity was higher in the 0.1% FWBP group than in the control. The malondialdehyde levels decreased significantly in the 0.2% and 0.4% groups. The intestinal mRNA levels of the LZM-C and IL-10 genes were significantly higher in the 0.2% than in the 0.4% FWBP group; TNF-α was significantly upregulated in the 0.1% group. The gene expression in the kidneys did not differ significantly among the treatments, except for a significant increase in the IL-10 expression in the 0.1% treatment. Significantly elevated expression of LZM-C in 0.2% group and IL-10 in 0.1% group was observed in the spleens. TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly downregulated in the 0.4% group. These results suggest that FWBPs could be used as immunostimulant feed additives in common carp cultures.

     

Effect of substitution of dietary fish meal by soybean meal on different sizes of gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio): digestive enzyme gene expressions and activities,and intestinal and hepatic histology

A 7‐week growth trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary soybean meal (SBM) on digestive enzyme activity of intestinal mucosa, mRNA levels of digestive enzymes in hepatopancreas, and the mid‐intestinal and hepatopancreas histology of gibel carp CAS III (Carassius auratus gibelio). Four different growth phases of gibel carp (initial body weight: fry, 0.8 g; juvenile, 5.0 g; 1‐year‐old, 62.7 g; and broodstock, 135.6 g) were tested. Seven isonitrogenous and iso‐energetic diets were formulated to contain different SBM replacement levels (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of dietary fish meal protein), and another diet (SBMAA) contained all SBM protein and supplied crystalline amino acids. The results showed that the activities of mid‐intestine trypsin, α‐amylase and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase reduced with increased dietary SBM, while the chymotrypsin activity increased first and then decreased. The ultrastructures of intestinal epithelial cells and hepatopancreas cells in fry and broodstock fish were distinctly affected by 200 g kg^‐1 dietary SBM. Supplementation of dietary amino acid to the highest replacement groups was not sufficient to improve digestive and absorptive capacities and growth performance. Gibel carp may be adapted to dietary SBM through increase in gene expression of hepatopancreas digestive enzymes and has potential to utilize proceeded SBM as feedstuffs.     

Effects of glycinin on growth performance,immunity and antioxidant capacity in juvenile golden crucian carp,Cyprinus carpio × Carassius auratus

This study was designed to examine the effects of glycinin on growth, digestive ability, immune responses, antioxidant capacity and gene expression levels of golden crucian carp. Golden crucian carp were fed diets containing glycinin at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 g/kg, respectively, for 8 weeks. Body weight, weight gain percentage, specific growth rate and feed efficiency ratio were negatively related to the content of glycinin in diet. Activities of protease, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, lysozyme in hepatopancreas, and activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity in the proximal intestine, mid intestine, distal intestine and hepatopancreas were negatively related to the content of glycinin in diet, whereas malondialdehyde in proximal intestine, mid intestine, distal intestine and hepatopancreas increased directly with the content of glycinin in diet. Furthermore, the relative expressions of TNF‐α and IL‐1β in proximal intestine, mid intestine and distal intestine increased directly with the content of glycinin in diet, whereas the relative expressions of TNF‐α and IL‐1β in hepatopancreas were negatively related to the content of glycinin in diets. The relative expressions of IL‐10 in proximal intestine, mid intestine, distal intestine and hepatopancreas all were negatively related to the content of glycinin in diets. In conclusion, reductions in growth, immunity and antioxidant capacity, intestine inflammation with dysfunction of digestive system occurred in golden crucian carp that fed a diet containing glycinin at 30 g/kg or higher after 8 weeks.     

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.     

Effects of different carbon sources addition on nutrition composition and extracellular enzymes activity of bioflocs,and digestive enzymes activity and growth performance of Litopenaeus vannamei in zero‐exchange culture tanks

A 35‐day feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different carbon sources addition on nutritional composition and extracellular enzymes activity of bioflocs, and digestive enzymes activity and growth performance of Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles (average 5.52 ± 0.21 g) in zero‐water exchange culture tanks. Molasses, corn flour and wheat bran were used as carbon sources and added into the tanks to promote the development of bioflocs during the experiment. During the entire experiment, good water quality and biofloc development were achieved under the addition of different carbon sources. At the end of the experiment, the proximate composition and extracellular enzymes activities of the collected bioflocs from seven biofloc groups were influenced by the addition of the different carbon sources. Meanwhile, the specific activities of protease, amylase, lipase and cellulase in the hepatopancreas, stomach and intestine of the shrimp showed differences among the seven biofloc groups, and most of them were significantly higher than those obtained in the control group (P < 0.05). There were differences in the performance (growth and FCR) of the shrimp among the seven biofloc groups, and all of them were significantly better than those obtained in the control group (P < 0.05). Based on the results of this study, 60% molasses + 20% corn flour + 20% wheat bran could be an appropriate formula of the addition of carbon sources for intensive culture of L. vannamei (mainly in terms of growth and FCR) in zero‐water exchange culture tanks.     

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.     

Fishmeal can be totally replaced by a mixture of rapeseed meal and Chlorella meal in diets for crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary fishmeal (FM) replacement by a mixture of rapeseed meal and Chlorella meal (RCM) on growth performance, apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs), digestive enzymatic activities and intestinal histology of crucian carp Carassius auratus gibelioi. Five isonitrogenous diets were formulated to replace 0% (RCM0), 25% (RCM25), 50% (RCM50), 75% (RCM75), and 100% (RCM100) of protein from fishmeal with RCM respectively. Each experimental diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups with 25 juvenile fish (initial body weight: 1.77 ± 0.04 g) per fibreglass tank for 6 weeks. With increasing substitution levels, weight gain rate, specific growth rate, feed intake and protein efficiency ratio increased, but feed conversion rate decreased. Dietary RCM substitution improved lipid content of muscle, but had no significant effect on other proximate composition of muscle and liver. ADCs of dry matter, protein, lipid, energy and the majority of amino acids increased with increasing substitution level, and digestive enzyme activities (amylase, trypsin and lipase) in intestine showed the similar trend with ADCs. Dietary RCM substitution had no significant adverse effect on intestinal histology. This study indicated that FM protein could be completely replaced by mixed protein sources (RCM) in crucian carp diets.     

Study on the adaptability of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) to diets from the perspective of digestion and absorption

As an ecologically sustainable aquaculture mode, the rice‐fish approach has been paid more attention in recent years. In rice paddies, there are plant and animal diet items available to fish, but it is not clear how common carp adapt to different diets. In view of this, common carp (initial weight 492.6 ± 30 g, n = 270) were randomly divided into three groups and fed with earthworms (group A), earthworms + duckweed (group M) and duckweed (group P) respectively. After 8 weeks under these feeding regimes, the intestinal digestive enzymes activities were assayed, and intestinal tissue sections stained with HE and AB‐PAS were used to observe the morphology. The results showed that the activities of trypsin and lipase were highest in group A, followed by group M and group P. Group A had greater intestinal fold height, fold width and fold absorption area than the other groups (p < .05), especially in the foregut. Meanwhile, the total number of mucous cells was largest in group P, followed by the groups M and A. Totally, activities and distributions of digestive enzymes, fold height, fold width, fold absorption area and number and distribution of mucous cells of common carp were affected by the type of diet. Based on these results, it was found that common carp has strong adaptability to diets, and it was speculated that the majority of digestion and absorption of protein was concentrated in the foregut, while for starch and cellulose, it was spread out along the whole intestine.     

Effects of dietary phenylalanine on growth,digestive and brush border enzyme activities and antioxidant capacity in the hepatopancreas and intestine of young grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

This study investigated the effects of phenylalanine on growth, digestive and absorptive ability and antioxidant status of young grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Young grass carp were fed diets containing 3.4 (basal diet), 6.1, 9.1, 11.5, 14.0 and 16.8 g phenylalanine kg^?1 diet with a fixed of 10.7 g tyrosine kg^?1 diet for 8 weeks. Percent weight gain (PWG), feed efficiency and feed intake of fish were the lowest in fish fed the basal diet (P < 0.05). Trypsin, lipase and amylase activities in the hepatopancreas, and antioxidants including glutathione contents and glutathione reducase activities in the hepatopancreas and intestine were all the highest in fish fed 11.5 g phenylalanine kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05). Trypsin, chymotrypsin and amylase activities in whole intestine, and creatine kinase, Na⁺, K⁺‐ATPase and alkaline phosphatase activities in the proximal intestine, and superoxide dismutase activities in the hepatopancreas and intestine were all the highest when phenylalanine at level of 9.1 g kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05). In conclusion, phenylalanine improved growth, digestive and absorptive ability, and antioxidant capacity of young grass carp. The phenylalanine requirement of young grass carp (256–629 g) based on PWG was 10.4 g kg^?1 diet or 3.44 g 100 g^?1 protein.     

Effects of Dietary Soybean Oil Replacement by Silkworm,Bombyx mori L., Chrysalis Oil on Growth Performance,Tissue Fatty Acid Composition,and Health Status of Juvenile Jian Carp,Cyprinus carpio var. Jian

Five triplicate groups containing 15 Jian carp (33.51 ± 1.91 g) were fed five isonitrogenous (30%) and isolipidic (8%) diets, with an increase in silkworm chrysalis oil (SCO) to replace soybean oil (SO) at 0 (SO), 25 (SCO25), 50 (SCO50), 75 (SCO75), or 100% (SCO100) levels for 59 d. Results showed that the SCO50 and SCO75 groups presented higher thermal growth coefficients than the SO and SCO100 groups and lower feed conversion ratios than the SCO100 group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the 50% SCO‐supplemented level decreased hepatopancreas lipid content and increased muscle crude protein content (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, α‐linolenic acid, n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content, and n‐3/n‐6 PUFA ratio increased in the hepatopancreas, and intraperitoneal fat and muscle as the replacement of SO increased (P < 0.05). No significant differences of the serum biochemical indices and hepatopancreatic malondialdehyde content were found among groups (P > 0.05), but hepatopancreatic superoxide dismutase activities in the SCO25 and SCO50 groups were significantly higher than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in muscularis coat thickness, fold height, and fold width in the mid‐intestine (P>0.05). Overall, up to 50 or 75% replacement of SO by SCO in the diet of Jian carp could improve growth performance without affecting the health status of the fish.     

Influence of dietary linoleic acid (18:2n‐6) and α‐linolenic acid (18:3n‐3) ratio on fatty acid composition of different tissues in freshwater fish Songpu mirror carp,Cyprinus Carpio

Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic purified diets were formulated to feed Songpu mirror carp for 60 days. The control diet (CD) was only supplemented with soybean oil. The other five experimental diets contained soybean oil, linseed oil and lard oil blended at various inclusion levels to attain different linoleic acid (LA)/α‐linolenic acid (LNA) ratios (0.53, 1.04, 2.09, 3.95, 6.82) with a constant total C₁₈ polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; LA+LNA, 2% dry weight) content. The fatty acid (FA) profiles of hepatopancreas, dorsal muscle, intestine, intraperitoneal fat (IPF), spleen and kidney reflected those of the diets, but with some differences. The spleen showed the lowest correlation with diet compared with other tissues, followed by the hepatopancreas (P < 0.05). The intestine and IPF showed relatively higher correlation. On the other hand, the control group had the lowest tissue‐diet correlation, followed by the LA/LNA0.53 group (P < 0.05), whereas the LA/LNA2.09 showed the highest. The LA/LNA ratios in the tissues were up‐regulated in the LA/LNA0.53, 1.04 groups and down‐regulated in the LA/LNA3.95, 6.82 groups. This was due to when LA (or LNA) was highly added in diet, the decrease in this FA was huge in tissue. The contents of saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids increased in the control group, but seemed not influenced by dietary LA/LNA ratios. These results demonstrated that the FA deposition was tissue‐specific, and also influenced by the dietary FA composition in the experimental fish. Finally, we suggest that 2.09 is the optimal LA/LNA ratio (2% C₁₈ PUFA) of Songpu mirror carp for fillet FA composition.     

Effect of prebiotic xylooligosaccharides on growth performances and digestive enzyme activities of allogynogenetic crucian carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carassius auratus gibelio</Emphasis>)

The effect of prebiotic xylooligosaccharides (XOS) on the growth performance and digestive enzyme activities of the allogynogenetic crucian carp, Carassius auratus gibelio, was investigated. XOS was added to fish basal semi-purified diets at three concentrations by dry feed weight: diet 1, 50 mg kg⁻¹; diet 2, 100 mg kg⁻¹; diet 3, 200 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Twelve aquaria (n = 20) with three replicates for each treatment group (diets 1–3) and control treated without XOS were used. Weights of all collected carp from each aquarium were determined at the initial phase and at the end of the experiment, and the carp survival was also determined by counting the individuals in each aquarium. After 45 days, there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the relative gain rate (RGR), and daily weight gain (DWG) of diets 1–3 were compared with the control. However, the survival rate was not affected (P > 0.05) by the dietary treatments. For enzymatic analysis, dissection produced a crude mixture of intestine and hepatopancreas of each segment to measure. The protease activity in the intestine and hepatopancreas content of fish in diet 2 (487.37 ± 20.58 U g⁻¹ and 20.52 ± 1.93 U g⁻¹) were significantly different (P < 0.05) from that in the control (428.13 ± 23.26 U g⁻¹ and 12.81 ± 1.52 U g⁻¹) and diet 3 (428.00 ± 23.78 U g⁻¹ and 14.04 ± 1.59 U g⁻¹). Amylase activity in the intestine was significantly higher for diet 2 compared to diet 1 and the control. As for amylase in the hepatopancreas, assays showed higher activity in diet 2 (P < 0.05) compared to the rest.     

A global view of hepatopancreas and intestinal reveals the potential influencing mechanism of aflatoxin B1 on nutrition and metabolism in Litopenaeus vannamei

The present study was to determine the time‐dependent alterations in growth performance, histomorphology, digestive enzymes activities and the genes expression related to target of rapamycin (TOR) signalling pathway involved in hepatopancreas and intestine of Litopenaeus vannamei at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 30 days after Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) challenge. The results manifested that AFB1 could induce a significant decrease in growth performance and visible variations of the hepatopancreas and intestine structures in shrimp. Meanwhile, the digestive enzymes activities and genes expression level were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group and showed a time‐dependent decrease (p < 0.05). The expression levels of tor and s6k were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group from days 6 to 24 and showed a tendency to increase first and then decrease as a whole (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, we analysed candidate pathways involved in hepatopancreas and intestine of shrimp in metabolic response to AFB1. The mainly disturbed pathways related to metabolism in hepatopancreas were involved in pyrimidine, glycosylphosphatidylinositol, glycosaminoglycan, vitamin and amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism, while the mainly disturbed metabolic pathways in intestine were glycosaminoglycan, vitamin and amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism.     

Effects of dietary vitamin K levels on growth performance,enzyme activities and antioxidant status in the hepatopancreas and intestine of juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian)

A total of 1400 juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian) (8.93 ± 0.03 g) were fed diets containing graded levels of vitamin K at 0.027 (basal diet), 1.52, 3.02, 4.51, 6.02 and 7.52 mg kg^?1 diet for 60 days to investigate the effects of vitamin K on growth, enzyme activities and antioxidant capacity in the hepatopancreas and intestine. Percentage weight gain (PWG), feed intake and feed efficiency of fish were improved by vitamin K. Activities of trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase and lipase in the intestine and hepatopancreas and Na⁺, K⁺‐ATPase, creatine kinase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase in the intestine were increased by vitamin K. Malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl contents in the hepatopancreas and intestine were decreased with vitamin K supplements. Certain level of vitamin K increased antihydroxyl radical, antisuperoxide anion, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione‐S‐transferase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities and glutathione contents in the hepatopancreas and intestine. Intestinal Lactobacillus, E. coli and Aeromonas were changed with vitamin K supplements. Together, these results indicate that vitamin K improved fish growth, digestive and absorptive ability, and anti‐oxidant capacity. The dietary vitamin K requirement of juvenile Jian carp (8.93–73.7 g) based on PWG was 3.13 mg kg^?1 diet.     

Dietary Lipid Levels Affect the Growth Performance,Lipid Deposition,and Antioxidative Capacity of Juvenile Scaleless Carp,Gymnocypris przewalskii,on the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau

A 56‐d growth trial was conducted to evaluate the growth performance, lipid deposition, and antioxidative capacity of juvenile scaleless carp, Gymnocypris przewalskii, on Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau. One‐year‐old juveniles (initial weight: 15.99 ± 0.02 g) were fed practical diets with different lipid levels of 4, 5.5, 7, 8.5, and 10%, respectively. Results showed that the best specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion rate, and total antioxidative capacity (T‐AOC) in hepatopancreas were observed in fish fed the diet with 7% lipid level. Fish fed with high lipid diets (8.5 and 10%) had significantly higher condition factor and viscerosomatic index as well as lipid in muscle, intestine, mesenteric fat tissue, and whole body. Highest level of hepatopancreas lipase and lipoprotein lipases activities as well as malondialdehyde content and the lowest level of feed intake and T‐AOC content in hepatopancreas and intestine were also observed in fish fed with high lipid diets (8.5 and 10%) (P < 0.05). In conclusion, based on SGR and hepatopancreas T‐AOC content, dietary lipid requirement of juvenile G. przewalskii was estimated to be 7.35 and 7.39%, respectively.     

Effects of dietary fishmeal replacement with Spirulina platensis on the growth,feed utilization,digestion and physiological parameters in juvenile gibel carp (Carassis auratus gibelio var. CAS III)

A 60‐day growth experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary replacement of fishmeal by Spirulina platensis on growth performance, digestion and physiological parameters in juvenile gibel carp (5.0 ± 1.0 g). Four diets were formulated to replace 0 (SP0), 50% (SP50), 75% (SP75) and 100% (SP100) of dietary fishmeal protein by S. platensis respectively. Other two diets based on SP100 were supplemented with 2% dicalcium phosphate (SP100 + P) or 0.28% coated lysine (SP100 + Lys). The results showed that no significant differences of specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE), feeding rate (FR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were observed between SP0 group and the replacement groups (SP50, SP75 and SP100). FE and PER of fish‐fed SP100 + Lys diet were significantly higher than the fish‐fed SP100 diet (p < .05). Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dry matter, protein, energy and phosphorus increased significantly with the increasing S. platensis inclusion. Meanwhile, fish from SP100 + P or SP100 + Lys group had higher ADCs of nutrients compared to the SP100 group (p < .05). Compared with SP0 diet, fish‐fed S. platensis diets had higher activities of plasma superoxide dismutase, hepatopancreas total antioxidant capacity, plasma alkaline phosphatase and plasma lysozyme, as well as the lower content of plasma malondialdehyde. The present results indicated that dietary fishmeal could be fully replaced by S. platensis without any negative effects on growth performance of gibel carp. Supplementation of lysine in the S. platensis replacement diet could further improve the feed utilization of gibel carp.     

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.     

Effect of dietary soybean lecithin on growth parameters,digestive enzyme activity,antioxidative status and mucosal immune responses of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Common carp, Cyprinus carpio (13.54 ± 0.48 g), were fed soybean lecithin‐incorporated diets for 8 weeks. After the feeding trials, the different groups of fishes were assessed by survival, growth parameters, digestive enzymes, antioxidant enzyme activities, mucosal immune parameters, etc. The lecithin‐incorporated diets (10–30 g kg^–1) helped to increase the weight gain significantly (p < .05) compared with control groups; activity of digestive enzymes was also significantly (p < .05) higher compared with experimental groups. The antioxidant enzymes including catalase and serum superoxide dismutase were significantly (p < .05) higher in the C. carpio fed lecithin‐incorporated feed than the ones fed the control feed. The serum thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances and serum glutathione peroxidase activity did not differ significantly (p > .05) between control and experimental groups. The positive correlation supported that antibacterial activity was significantly (p < .05) increased with increasing concentration of lecithin in the diets. Among the different mucosal immune parameters, lysozyme, protease and esterase activities were significantly (p < .05) increased with lecithin‐incorporated diets. The results of this study confirm that 20 and 30 g kg^–1 lecithin inclusion in diets helped to enhance the activities of digestive enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, antibacterial factors and mucosal immune parameters in C. carpio.     

Modulation of growth performances,survival, digestive enzyme activities and intestinal microbiota in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) larvae using short chain fructooligosaccharide

This study investigates the effects of inclusion of low levels of dietary short chain fructooligosacchairde (sc‐FOS) on physiological response and intestinal microbiota of carp (Cyprinus carpio) larvae. After acclimation, fish (550 ± 20 mg) were allocated into nine tanks (40 fish per tank) and triplicate groups were fed a control diet (0%) or diets containing 0.5% and 1% sc‐FOS for 7 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the growth performance parameters (final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio (FCR) and condition factor (CF), survival rate as well as digestive enzyme activities (amylase, lipase and protease), total viable counts of heterotrophic aerobic bacteria (TVC) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) level in intestinal microbiota were measured. Our results revealed no significant (P > 0.05) effects of sc‐FOS on growth performance and TVC when compared with the control group. However, administration of low levels of dietary sc‐FOS significantly increased digestive enzyme activities (lipase and amylase) and LAB levels (P < 0.05). Also, survival rate was significantly elevated in sc‐FOS fed carp. These results revealed that administration of low levels of sc‐FOS can be considered as a beneficial dietary supplement for larval stage of common carp.     

The effects of dietary thiamin on oxidative damage and antioxidant defence of juvenile fish

The present study explored the effects of thiamin on antioxidant capacity of juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian). In a 60-day feeding trial, a total of 1,050 juvenile Jian carp (8.20 ± 0.02 g) were fed graded levels of thiamin at 0.25, 0.48, 0.79, 1.06, 1.37, 1.63 and 2.65 mg thiamin kg^?1 diets. The results showed that malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl contents in serum, hepatopancreas, intestine and muscle were significantly decreased with increasing dietary thiamin levels (P < 0.05). Conversely, the anti-superoxide anion capacity and anti-hydroxyl radical capacity in serum, hepatopancreas, intestine and muscle were the lowest in fish fed the thiamin-unsupplemented diet. Meanwhile, the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase, and the contents of glutathione in serum, hepatopancreas, intestine and muscle were enhanced with increasing dietary thiamin levels (P < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in serum, hepatopancreas and intestine followed a similar trend as CAT (P < 0.05). However, SOD activity in muscle was not affected by dietary thiamin level (P > 0.05). The results indicated that thiamin could improve antioxidant defence and inhibit lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation of juvenile Jian carp.