Effects of partial substitution of dietary fish meal by fermented soybean meal on growth performance,amino acid and biochemical parameters of juvenile black sea bream Acanthopagrus schlegeli

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing fish meal protein with fermented soybean meal (FSM) on the growth performance, feed utilization, amino acid profile, body composition, morphological parameters, activity of antioxidant and digestive enzymes of black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegeli) juvenile. Five isonitrogenic and isolipidic diets were prepared with levels of 0 (control), 80, 160, 240 and 320 g kg^?1 FSM. Triplicate groups (40 fish per tank) of juvenile black sea bream with initial weight of 1.17 ± 0.04 g were hand‐fed to visual satiation at three meals per day for 8 weeks. The fish fed diets containing different levels of FSM had no significant differences regarding survival and specific growth rate compared with control group. Feed and protein efficiency ratios of fish fed diet containing 320 g kg^?1 FSM were significantly lower than those of control group. Daily feed intake and daily protein intake of fish fed diet containing 240–320 g kg^?1 were significantly higher than those of control group. Hepatosomatic index and condition factor of fish were not affected by different dietary FSM level. Fish fed diets containing 240–320 g kg^?1 FSM had significantly higher visceral somatic index than control group. Whole body proximate and amino acid compositions of fish were not affected by dietary FSM level. The activity of digestive enzymes in the intestine was not affected by dietary FSM level. The activity of glutathione peroxidase in liver was significantly higher for fish fed the diet containing 160 g kg^?1 FSM compared with control group. This study showed that up to 40% fish meal in the diets of juvenile black sea bream could be replaced by fermented soybean meal with supplementation of methionine, lysine and taurine.     

四种不同食性鱼类肠道微生物群落组成及多样性比较分析

本研究旨在探讨食性对鱼类肠道菌群组成和多样性的影响,并预测特定菌群对不同营养素的潜在功能。实验采用高通量16S rRNA基因测序技术,提取获得滇池高背鲫(Carassius auratus)、草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)、鳜鱼(Siniperca chuatsi)、昆明裂腹鱼(Shizothorax grahami) 4种不同食性鱼类的肠道内容物,12个样品的16S rRNA,构建文库并测序,分析这4种鱼类肠道微生物的菌落组成和多样性。结果显示,鱼类肠道菌群多样性受到食性的显著影响(P<0.05),综合表现为杂食性(滇池高倍鲫) > 草食性(草鱼) > 滤食性(昆明裂腹鱼) > 肉食性(鳜鱼)。4种鱼类具有一些相同的优势菌群：变形菌门(Proteobacteria)和厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)。然而,优势菌群在属水平上存在一定差异,如不动杆菌属(Acinetobacter)为鳜鱼的优势菌群,拟杆菌属(Bacteroides)为草鱼的优势菌群等。功能预测发现,鳜鱼肠道中以革兰氏阴性菌为主;草鱼抗病潜力略高于其他3种鱼类;约氏不动杆菌(A._ johnsonii)、鲁氏不动杆菌(A. lwoffii)和施氏假单胞菌(Pseudomonas stutzeri)可能有助于宿主对蛋白质的消化,而拟杆菌属中的某些菌群可能有助于宿主消化纤维素。综上所述,食性是影响鱼类肠道菌群组成和多样性差异化的主要因素之一,分析食性与肠道优势菌群之间的关联,探讨特异菌群的功能,可为研究鱼类营养代谢的微生物效应奠定理论基础。     

Carbohydrates in fish nutrition: digestion and absorption in postlarval stages

This review summarizes information regarding digestion and absorption of carbohydrates in cultivated fish. Relevant results of studies of digestive enzymes, e.g. amylase, chitinase, cellulase and brush border disaccharidases are presented. Fish amylases appear to be molecularly closely related and to have characteristics comparable to mammalian amylases. Whether chitinases and cellulases are endogenous enzymes of some fish species is still a matter of speculation, although recent molecular evidence, at least for chitinase seems to settle the issue in favour of endogenous sources. Feed and intestinal microbes may be the source of polysaccharidases in fish feeding on nutrients‐containing non‐starch polysaccharides. Knowledge regarding monosaccharide transport in fish intestine as interpreted from studies of brush border membrane vesicles, everted sleeves of fish intestinal sections and molecular biology is discussed. Glucose transporters of the intestinal brush border show characteristics similar to those found in mammals. A tabulatory presentation of experimental details and results reported in the literature regarding starch digestibility is included as a basis for discussion. Although numerous investigations on digestion of starch and other carbohydrates in fish have been published, the existing information is highly fragmentary. As yet, it is impossible to derive a cohesive picture on the integrated process of carbohydrate hydrolysis and absorption and interaction with diet composition for any of the fish species under cultivation. The physiological mechanisms behind the species differences are not known.     

饲料中添加大豆皂甙对大菱鲆幼鱼生长和肠道健康的影响

为研究大豆皂甙对大菱鲆幼鱼生长性能、消化酶活性、肠道组织结构完整性和肠道菌群结构的影响,在以鱼粉为蛋白源的基础饲料中分别添加0%和0.3%的大豆皂甙,配制成鱼粉组和大豆皂甙组2种等氮等脂的实验饲料来投喂体质量为(4.63±0.01) g的大菱鲆进行12周的摄食生长实验。结果显示,饲料中添加0.3%的大豆皂甙对大菱鲆的生长性能没有产生显著影响,但显著降低了胃蛋白酶及肠淀粉酶活性;2组实验中大菱鲆肠道组织形态无明显差异,但大豆皂甙组肠道紧密连接蛋白的基因表达量显著降低。肠道菌群分析结果显示,大菱鲆肠道中相对丰度最高的门和属分别为变形菌门和盐单胞菌属。LEfSe和MetaStat分析显示,饲料中添加大豆皂甙后显著提高了大菱鲆肠道内优势菌(变形菌门及希瓦氏菌属),皂甙水解相关的肠道微生物(鞘脂单胞菌属、普氏菌属、栖瘤胃普雷沃菌以及普通拟杆菌)及潜在致病菌(莫氏杆菌属和发光杆菌属)的相对丰度,同时显著降低了Caenimonas、Niastella和条件致病菌罗尔斯通菌属的相对丰度。研究表明,0.3%大豆皂甙抑制了大菱鲆消化酶活性及肠道紧密连接蛋白的基因表达,且引起了大菱鲆肠道菌群结构的显著改变。因此,大豆皂甙对鱼类肠道健康尤其是肠道菌群的影响不容忽视,值得进一步研究。     

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.     

牛磺酸缓解脂质氧化日粮对黄河鲤生长性能和肠道健康的负面影响

为了探究牛磺酸对脂质氧化饲料饲喂下黄河鲤生长性能和肠道健康的影响,实验先用等量的氧化鱼油（记为OFO）替换基础日粮（记为FO）中的新鲜鱼油,接着将不同含量（0.4%、0.8% 和1.2%）的牛磺酸分别加入OFO组饲料中（分别记为T0.4、T0.8和T1.2）,对初始体重为（8.74±0.01）g的黄河鲤进行为期10周的养殖实验。结果显示,与FO组相比,OFO组的终末体质量、增重率、特定增长率和饲料效率均显著降低。上述所有指标在T0.4、T0.8和T1.2组中均显著高于OFO组。另外,OFO组中肝胰脏抗氧化酶的mRNA表达水平显著低于FO组,而牛磺酸添加组中肝胰脏和肠道的抗氧化酶mRNA表达均有不同程度的上调。与FO组相比,OFO组中的肠道消化酶活性,肠绒毛高度、肠绒毛宽度和肌层厚度均显著降低,而在牛磺酸添加组中均得到提高。同样的,OFO组中肠道微生物组成的丰富度和多样性显著降低,条件致病菌丰度明显升高,而有益菌的丰度却有所下降,这些不良现象在牛磺酸组中均得到明显改善。研究表明,牛磺酸可缓解脂质氧化饲料对黄河鲤造成的生长性能抑制、肠道组织结构破坏、消化功能下降及肠道菌群紊乱等不良影响。结合本研究结果,在氧化脂质饲料中牛磺酸的建议添加剂量为0.4~0.8%。本研究为进一步探索牛磺酸对鱼类肠道的生物学功能奠定理论基础。     

复合益生菌对眼斑双锯鱼(Amphiprion ocellaris)肠道消化酶、菌群结构以及形态的影响

为探讨饲料中添加复合益生菌对眼斑双锯鱼(Amphiprion ocellaris)肠道消化酶、菌群结构及形态的影响,将135尾初始体重(0.79±0.01)g的眼斑双锯鱼随机分为3组,每组3个重复,分别投喂复合益生菌有效活菌添加量为0%(对照组)、3%(L3组)和6%(L6组)的饲料,进行为期28 d的养殖试验。结果显示,复合益生菌能提升试验鱼肠道蛋白酶的活性,其中L3组肠道蛋白酶显著提升(P<0.05);能显著降低试验鱼肠道淀粉酶活性(P<0.05);能降低脂肪酶活性(P>0.05)。随着饲料中益生菌添加量的增加,试验鱼肠道中变形菌门丰度开始增多,拟杆菌门丰度降低。饲料中益生菌添加量的增加显著降低试验鱼肠道肌层厚度并显著增加试验鱼肠道绒毛高度(P<0.05)。可见,饲料中添加3%复合益生菌可改善眼斑双锯鱼肠道消化酶活性,提高肠道微生物群落多样性,改善肠道组织形态和功能。     

The Toxicity of Hydrogen Peroxide to Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarki Fry and Fingerlings

Fungal and parasitic infections of fish can significantly impact the survival of cultured fish. Formalin is currently used to control such infections; however, concern has arisen over its safety to users and to the environment. Hydrogen peroxide has been designated as a low priority fungicidal drug by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), yet, little information is available on treatment concentrations or its toxicity to trout. Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki fry and Angerlings were exposed to hydrogen peroxide concentrations of 0, 70, 170, 280, 420 and 540 ppm for 30, 60 or 120 rnin at 15 C to determine the chemical's toxicity. Rainbow trout fry and fingerlings experienced elevated mortalities (>20%) during treatments using 420 and 540 ppm for 30 min; 280, 420 and 540 ppm for 60 min; and >170 ppm for 120 min. Cutthroat trout fry experienced elevated mortalities (>23%) during treatments using 540 ppm for 30 min; 420 and 540 ppm for 60 min; and >170 ppm for 120 min. Cutthroat trout fingerlings experienced elevated mortalities (>60%) during treatments using 540 ppm for 60 min and >280 ppm for 120 min. No control mortalities were encountered for both life stages of either species. The lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) of both age classes and species for each of the three durations ranged from 514–636 ppm for 30 min treatments, 322–506 ppm for 60 min treatments, and 189–280 for 120 min treatments. Mortalities for all four toxicity tests which occurred during a 96-h post-treatment period were centered around the following treatments: 30 min, 540 ppm; 60 min, 280–540 ppm; 120 min, 170 ppm. Tissue damage to gills was found only among fish that did not survive the initial chemical exposure. Test concentrations proved to be relatively stable during a 24-h period, retaining better than 85% of their original strength for all five dilutions. At a water temperature of 15 C concentrations should not exceed 280 ppm for a 30-min treatment.     

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...     

Response of cholecystokinin and digestive enzyme mRNA levels to various feed ingredients in yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is the key regulator hormone that stimulates the secretion of digestive pancreatic enzymes in vertebrates. In fish, little is known about the mechanism of induction of CCK in the digestive tract by feed ingredients. To investigate the response of CCK and digestive enzymes to fish feed ingredients in yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata, we performed a number of experiments in which we measured the mRNA levels of CCK, trypsin, and lipase after oral administration of a single bolus of the ingredients. We administered fish meal and fish oil in experiment 1; high and low concentrations of fish meal in experiment 2; and five different dietary protein sources (fish meal, soybean meal, soy protein concentrate, corn gluten meal, and glutamic acid fermentation by-products) in experiment 3. In experiments 1 and 3, only fish meal significantly increased the mRNA levels of CCK and digestive enzyme. In experiment 2, a high concentration of fish meal [20?% (w/v)] significantly increased CCK and trypsin mRNA levels, but a low concentration of fish meal [1?% (w/v)] did not. These results suggest that high concentrations of fish meal (the protein source in fish feed) has the most potent effect on stimulation of CCK synthesis and secretion of digestive enzymes in yellowtail.     

A new approach to fishery waste revalorization to enhance Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) digestion process

The main goal of this research was to analyse in vitro compatibility of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) digestive proteinases and enzymes recovered from species comprising fishery waste as Pleoticus muelleri, Artemesia longinaris and Patagonotothen ramsayi. It evaluated the use of exogenous enzymes as feed supplements to increase digestion efficiency in tilapia fingerlings and juveniles (3.5 ± 0.11 g and 11.6 ± 1.5 g, respectively). We successfully have obtained proteinases from fishery waste as source of exogenous enzymes. P. muelleri and A. longinaris enzymes had more activity of acid and alkaline proteinases than P. ramsayi. SDS‐PAGE gels demonstrated that Nile tilapia digestive proteinases keep their activity when combined with each exogenous proteinase. Exogenous enzymes varied in their ability to enhance hydrolysis of different feed ingredients. P. muelleri by‐products are the best candidates to be employed as feed supplements for tilapia juveniles. Enzymes from this by‐product did not affect the activity and integrity of fish digestive enzymes, improved the hydrolysis of different protein sources (fish meal, squid meal, shrimp meal and soybean meal), and maintained its activity after being exposed to high temperatures and acid pHs. Our findings are applicable to other places where O. niloticus is raised utilizing local fishery waste, and also to different cultured species.     

Supplementation of dietary apple cider vinegar as an organic acidifier on the growth performance,digestive enzymes and mucosal immunity of green terror (Andinoacara rivulatus)

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of dietary apple cider vinegar (ACV) on digestive enzyme activity and growth performance as well as immune responses and antibacterial activity of skin mucus in green terror (Andinoacara rivulatus). Fish were fed diets supplemented with 0%, 1%, 2% and 4% of ACV (40.830 ppm acetic acid concentration) for 63 days. The final weight and weight gain values were observed to be significantly higher in fish fed with 2% of ACV compared to the control group (p < .05). ACV inclusion in the diets had significant effects on SGR (%) and FCR values (p > .05). ACV treatment resulted in a significant increase in the intestinal protease, α‐amylase, lipase and alkaline phosphatase activities compared to control (p < .05). The activities of digestive enzymes in fish fed with 2% and 4% of ACV diets were significantly higher than the other groups (p < .05). The total protein content, alternative haemolytic complement, alkaline phosphatase, total immunoglobulins and lysozyme activities of skin mucus increased significantly in fish fed with ACV diets (p < .05). In conclusion, administration of ACV enhanced digestive enzyme activity, growth performance, immune responses and the immune properties of skin mucus, and it can be used as a natural growth promoter and immunostimulant in green terror culture.     

Effect of sex and protein level on the intermediary metabolism,growth, deposition of nutrients and profile of volatile compounds of silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen)

This study aimed at evaluating the intermediary metabolism, growth, nutritional deposition and volatile compounds of fillet of female and male silver catfish created in cages having commercial diets at two levels of crude protein. A total of 1,200 silver catfish were randomly distributed in 12 cages with initial weight of 130.05 ± 0.14 g and visually sexed. Commercial diets with 280 g/kg and 320 g/kg of crude protein were offered twice a day in the amount of 30 g/kg their biomass/day, for 90 days. At the end of the experimental period, biometry was performed to collect data, blood and tissue for later determination of plasma metabolites, hepatic metabolites, digestive enzymes, volatile compounds, deposition of nutrients and calculation of growth variables. There were metabolic differences due to the sex of silver catfish, reflecting greater productive efficiency on the females. For the plasma metabolites, in male, there were higher values of triglycerides and free amino acids than in female. For hepatic glucose, males fed with diet containing 280 g/kg of crude protein showed higher values. For protein and free amino acids, the interaction between males that received 320 g/kg of crude protein was higher. In males, there were higher values of AST and hepatic glycogen than in females. In turn, hepatic ammonia was higher in females. There was greater activity of acid protease enzymes and trypsin in the silver catfish that received diets containing 320 g/kg of crude protein. Regardless of sex, in this cultivation phase, diets with 320 g/kg of crude protein provided better performance to silver catfish. The profile of volatile compounds suggests mild odour for the fillet of silver catfish, which can be a competitive advantage of the species.     

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.     

Enzyme‐producing bacteria isolated from fish gut: a review

Digestion of food depends on three main factors: (i) the ingested food and the extent to which the food is susceptible to the effects of digestive enzymes, (ii) the activity of the digestive enzymes and (iii) the length of time the food is exposed to the action of the digestive enzymes. Each of these factors is affected by a multitude of secondary factors. The present review highlights the experimental results on the secondary factor, enzymatic activity and possible contribution of the fish gut microbiota in nutrition. It has been suggested that fish gut microbiota might have positive effects to the digestive processes of fish, and these studies have isolated and identified the enzyme‐producing microbiota. In addition to Bacillus genera, Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Flavobacterium, Photobacterium, Pseudomonas, Vibrio, Microbacterium, Micrococcus, Staphylococcus, unidentified anaerobes and yeast are also suggested to be possible contributors. However, in contrast to endothermic animals, it is difficult to conclude the exact contribution of the gastrointestinal microbiota because of the complexity and variable ecology of the digestive tract of different fish species, the presence of stomach and pyloric caeca and the relative intestinal length. The present review will critically evaluate the results to establish whether or not intestinal microbiota do contribute to fish nutrition.     

Effects of dietary amylose/amylopectin ratio on growth performance,feed utilization,digestive enzymes,and postprandial metabolic responses in juvenile obscure puffer Takifugu obscurus

The effect of dietary amylose/amylopectin (AM/AP) ratio on growth, feed utilization, digestive enzyme activities, plasma parameters, and postprandial blood glucose responses was evaluated in juvenile obscure puffer, Takifugu obscurus. Five isonitrogenous (430 g kg^?1 crude protein) and isolipidic (90 g kg^?1 crude lipid) diets containing an equal starch level (250 g kg^?1 starch) with different AM/AP ratio diets of 0/25, 3/22, 6/19, 9/16 and 12/13 were formulated. Each experimental diet was fed to triplicate groups (25 fish per tank), twice daily during a period of 60 days. After the growth trial, a postprandial blood response test was carried out. Fish fed diet 6/19 showed best growth, feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio. Hepatosomatic index, plasma total cholesterol concentration, liver glycogen and lipid content, and gluconokinase, pyruvate kinase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase activities were lower in fish fed highest AM/AP diet (12/13) than in fish fed the low-amylose diets. Activities of liver and intestinal trypsin in fish fed diet 3/22 and diet 6/19 were higher than in fish fed diet 9/16 and diet 12/13. Activities of liver and intestinal amylase and intestinal lipase, and starch digestibility were negatively correlated with dietary AM/AP ratio. Fish fed diet 3/22 and diet 6/19 showed higher plasma total amino acid concentration than fish fed the other diets, while plasma urea nitrogen concentration and activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase showed the opposite trend. Equal values were found for viscerosomatic index and condition factor, whole body and muscle composition, plasma high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, and activities of lipase and hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphatase in liver. Postprandial plasma glucose and triglyceride peak value of fish fed diet 12/13 were lower than in fish fed the low-amylose diets, and the peak time of plasma glucose was later than in fish fed the other diets. Plasma glucose and triglyceride concentrations showed a significant difference at 2 and 4 h after a meal and varied between dietary treatments. According to regression analysis of weight gain against dietary AM/AP ratio, the optimum dietary AM/AP ratio for maximum growth of obscure puffer was 0.25. The present result indicates that dietary AM/AP ratio could affect growth performance and feed utilization, some plasma parameters, digestive enzyme as well as hepatic glucose metabolic enzyme activities in juvenile obscure puffer.     

The dependence on temperature and pH of the effects of zinc and copper on proteolytic activities of the digestive tract mucosa in piscivorous fish and their potential preys

The dependence of the effects of zinc and copper on the activities of proteinases of the stomach and intestinal mucosa on temperature and pH in four species of boreal piscivorous fish (pike Esox lucius, zander Zander lucioperca, perch Perca fluviatilis and burbot Lota lota) as well as in some of their potential preys (kilka Clupeonella cultriventris, ruff Gymnocephalus cernuus, perch and roach Rutilus rutilus) was investigated. Species-specific differences of the effects of these heavy metals upon the activities of proteinases depending on temperature and pH were demonstrated. It was revealed that the stomach mucosa proteinases were more tolerant to the effects of the studied factors than the intestinal mucosa proteinases, especially true for pike. The effects of the heavy metals on the whole body proteinases of the fishes’ potential preys were mostly dependent on temperature than on pH. At pH 3.0, the negative action of zinc and copper on the fish digestive tract mucosa proteolytic activity to a considerable degree was compensated by the high activity of the hemoglobinlytic proteinases, probably, cathepsine D.     

Effects of genetic strain and holding facility on the characteristics of alkaline phosphatase and brush border enzymes in silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus)

The activity of the enzymes located in the digestive tract (pyloric caeca and intestine) in two strains and F₁ crosses of the Australian freshwater fish silver perch [Murray River (M) and Cataract Dam (C)] was evaluated. The effect of the fish holding system (cages or ponds) on the activity of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and the brush border enzymes: maltase, leucine amino peptidase (LAP) and γ‐glutamyl transferase (γ‐GT) was examined. The enzymatic activity was tested in three intestinal sections: the pyloric caeca, upper and lower intestine. All the tested enzyme activities were influenced by an interaction between the intestinal section and the strain or cross of silver perch. For fish maintained in ponds, there were two distinct enzymatic activity patterns, one for the pure strains (C × C and M × M) and one for the crosses (C × M and M × C). Significantly higher (P<0.05) enzymatic activities of the crosses compared with the pure strains were particularly noticeable in the pyloric caeca. In fish held in cages, there was a significantly higher (P<0.05) enzymatic activity in the pyloric caeca of the C × C strain. The total enzymatic activities in the fish reared in the ponds were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those in the fish held in cages. The results of the present investigation confirm that the different genetic background of the silver perch in the Murray River and in the Cataract Dam influences the activity of the brush border digestive enzymes. This activity also varies between maintenance systems.     

Effects of exogenous non-starch polysaccharide-degrading enzymes in diets containing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gracilaria lemaneiformis</Emphasis> on white-spotted snapper <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lutjanus stellatus</Emphasis> Akazaki

A feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of exogenous non-starch polysaccharide (NSP)-degrading enzymes in diets containing Gracilaria lemaneiformis (GL) on growth performance and digestive enzyme activities of white-spotted snapper Lutjanus stellatus Akazaki (initial mass 8.0 ± 0.1 g). A basal diet (D0) containing a mixed protein source (fish meal, soybean meal and GL meal) was used as the control. Two diets supplemented with 0.5 g (D1) and 1 g (D2) exogenous NSP-degrading enzymes per kilogram of diet were formulated. Each diet was assigned to triplicate groups of fish in a total of nine floating sea cages (270 fish, 30 fish per cage). After a 60-day feeding trail, significantly higher weight gain, specific growth ratio and feed efficiency ratio were observed in fish fed D2 diet compared to those of control (P < 0.05). Body lipid, moisture and ash contents were not significantly affected by NSP-degrading enzyme supplementation, but significantly higher protein content was noticed in fish fed D2 diet compared to that of control (P < 0.05). The amylase activity in the stomach and intestine was significantly higher in fish fed D2 diet (P < 0.05), but no significant differences were observed in pepsin and lipase activities in the stomach or trypsin and lipase activities in the intestine between all treatments. The results suggested that addition of 1 g kg^?1 NSP-degrading enzymes in diet could efficiently improve seaweed feed utilization and growth performance of white-spotted snapper fish.     

Ontogeny of the digestive tract of thick lipped grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) larvae reared in “mesocosms”

This work describes the ontogeny of the digestive tract in thick lipped grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) larvae reared until day 36 post-hatching with the semi-extensive technology in mesocosms. Diet was constituted by live preys, rotifers, Artemia and wild zooplankton, then compound diet was added from day 20 (p. h.). Linear growth, weight growth and digestive enzymes specific activities were studied during larval ontogeny. Pancreatic enzymes (trypsin and amylase) and intestinal enzymes (leucine-alanine peptidase “Leu-ala”, aminopeptidase N “AN” and alkaline phosphatase “AP”) were assayed in larvae sampled throughout the rearing trial to evaluate gastrointestinal maturation along the development.The trypsin specific activities were very high during the first two weeks and then declined as observed in marine fish species. A following increase in trypsin specific activity from day 20 was attributed notably to ingestion of particle compound diet. In contrast to the pattern generally described in fish larvae, amylase specific activity showed a continuous increase. This could be attributed to the fact that C. labrosus is an omnivorous species and suggests that the fish might be able to use efficiently diets containing higher levels of starch or other carbohydrates since the end of larval development.Relative expression of intestinal brush border membrane enzymes (AP and AN) and cytosolic enzyme (Leu-ala), showed an abrupt increase of both AP/leu-ala and AN/leu-ala ratios at day 8 (p. h.), indicating that maturation of intestinal tract in C. labrosus larvae is particularly precocious. It is assumed that larvae of C. labrosus might support early co-feeding and weaning strategies, which could reasonably be initiated since mouth opening.