Effects of dietary reduced glutathione on the growth and antioxidant capacity of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

To investigate the effects of dietary reduced glutathione (GSH) on the growth performance and antioxidant capacity of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), 396 juvenile fish with initial body weight of 143.07 ± 6.56 g were randomly distributed into four groups fed four diets with graded supplementation levels of GSH (0, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg diet) for 83 days. The results showed that the appropriate GSH supplementation (100 and 200 mg/kg diet) significantly increased the growth performance, activities and gene mRNA expression levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione transferase (GST), and the content of GSH and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), whereas it significantly decreased activities and gene mRNA expression levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA; p < 0.05). However, the excess dietary GSH (400 mg/kg diet) had an adverse effect on the all above indexes. Interestingly, the dietary GSH had the opposite effect on GSH‐related antioxidant enzymes (GPx and GST) and other antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT). The results showed that the diet with 200 mg/kg GSH supplementation was optimal for the juvenile Atlantic salmon, which had a measured GSH content of 209.54 mg/kg.     

Dietary supplementation of N‐carbamylglutamate and effects on growth,intestinal enzyme activities,immunological and antioxidant abilities of juvenile yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)

The effects of N‐carbamylglutamate (NCG) on growth, intestinal enzyme activities, immunological and antioxidant parameters were evaluated by a 56‐d feeding trial in Pelteobagrus fulvidraco fed diets containing NCG with 0, 250, 500, 1,000 or 2,000 mg/kg, respectively. The results showed that 250 mg/kg of NCG resulted in significantly higher weight gain, intestine fold height, intestine lipase, serum lysozyme, glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant capacity than control (p < 0.05). However, higher intestine trypsin, arginase, arginine decarboxylase, ornithine decarboxylase, diamine oxidase activities and serum nitric oxide content were observed in 500 mg/kg NCG group compared to control or 2,000 mg/kg (p < 0.05). The survival rate, intestine muscular layer thickness, serum lysozyme and superoxide dismutase activities in 2,000 mg/kg NCG group were significantly lower than those in control and 250 mg/kg group, accompanied by the higher feed conversion ratio in the same group (p < 0.05). Together, dietary NCG level at 250 or 500 mg/kg improved growth, intestinal enzyme activities, immunological and antioxidant abilities, while high NCG level of 2,000 mg/kg had a negative effect. Quadratic regression analysis on weigh growth, diamine oxidase and lysozyme activities indicated that the recommended optimum dietary NCG level was 213.48–314.50 mg/kg of the dry diet.     

Characterization and expression of NADPH oxidase genes in stimulated splenic neutrophils of tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus by a mix of traditional Chinese medicine and Bacillus species (TCMBS)

Traditional Chinese medicine and Bacillus species (TCMBS) mixture is an immunostimulant with considerable promise as an alternative in improving fish health. However, nothing is known on its effects on the expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase genes and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the neutrophils of fish. The full lengths of tilapia phagocytic NADPH oxidase genes gp91^phox, p22^phox, p40^phox, p47^phox, and p67^phox were cloned and their expression profiles after TCMBS stimulus investigated. The cDNAs of tilapia gp91^phox, p22^phox, p40^phox, p47^phox, and p67^phox contained open reading frames of 1698 bp, 561 bp, 1053 bp, 1584 bp, and 1470 bp respectively, encoding 561, 186, 350, 527, and 489 amino acids respectively. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences showed that tilapia NADPH oxidase genes shared 58%–91% and 21%–67% identity with those of other teleost and mammals respectively. Besides, tilapia NADPH oxidase genes contain conserved domains and motifs required for ROS generation. Phylogenetic analysis suggested tilapia NADPH oxidase genes were close to those of Fundulus heteroclitus. After 2 weeks of TCMBS application showed significant upregulation in expression of NADPH oxidase genes, antioxidant genes (i.e., superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione‐disulphide reductase), and an increase in the production of ROS compared to the control in splenic neutrophils of tilapia. Collectively, our study provides evidence of the structure of tilapia NADPH oxidase genes and demonstrate that TCMBS application could modulate their activity in neutrophils to improve immunity in tilapia.     

Dietary trans‐cinnamic acid application for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): II. Effect on antioxidant status,digestive enzyme,blood biochemistry and liver antioxidant gene expression responses

The present study investigated the effects of dietary trans‐cinnamic acid (TrCin) on growth performance, biochemical composition, fatty acid composition, blood biochemistry, antioxidant status, digestive enzyme and liver antioxidant gene (EF1α, SOD1, SOD2, CAT, GPX1, GPX4, GR and GST) expression responses of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Five experimental groups of fish with mean weights of 17.49 ± 0.08 g were used in the study; four of them were fed with TrCin‐supplemented diets (0.25 g/kg TrCin25, 0.50 g/kg TrCin50, 0.75 g/kg TrCin75 and 1.50 g/kg TrCin150), whereas an additive‐free basal diet served as the control (Cntr). At the end of the 60‐day feeding trial, the growth performance, biochemical composition and fatty acid composition were similar for all experimental groups. A decrease was observed in intestinal and stomach pH, serum triglyceride and AST, ALT, LDH and ALP levels in fish fed with especially 0.50 g/kg TrCin‐supplemented diet. Moreover, dietary TrCin especially at 0.50 g/kg incorporation level significantly increased the serum SOD and liver SOD2, CAT, GST, GPX1, GPX4 and GR gene expression responses. As a conclusion, feeding rainbow trout for a period of 60 days with a diet containing 0.50 g/kg TrCin might be sufficiently enough to improve the levels of antioxidant enzymes and health status in fish.     

Combined or individual effects of dietary magnesium and selenium nanoparticles on growth performance,immunity, blood biochemistry and antioxidant status of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) reared in freshwater

This study was conducted to investigate effects of and interactions between nanoselenium (NanoSe) and nanomagnesium (NanoMg) on growth, humoral immunity, serum biochemistry and antioxidant capacity of juvenile Asian seabass Lates calcarifer reared in freshwater. Four groups of fish with an average weight of 32.78 ± 2.23 g were fed one of the experimental diets for 6 weeks: (a) control (basal diet); (b) NanoSe (basal diet + 4 mg NanoSe/kg diet); (c) NanoMg (basal diet + 500 mg NanoMg/kg diet); and (d) combination (basal diet + 4 mg NanoSe/kg diet + 500 mg NanoMg/kg diet). Fish fed with NanoSe‐supplemented diets (NanoSe and combination) showed higher weight gain, specific growth rate and feed intake. The combination of NanoSe and NanoMg enhanced the immune response. Also, fish fed on combination diet showed higher serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase levels but lower glucose concentration. The activities of liver superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase were not different among all groups, but liver malondialdehyde level was lower in fish fed diets supplemented with NanoSe and/or NanoMg. It could be concluded that NanoSe improved growth performance; the combination of both NanoSe and NanoMg enhanced humoral immunity; and NanoSe and/or NanoMg improved antioxidant capacity in Asian seabass.     

The role of açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart. 1824) as a chemoprotective agent in the evaluation of antioxidant defence,oxidative damage and histology of juvenile shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (BOONE, 1931) exposed to ammonia

This study investigated the effects of the use of the inclusion of açaí on the diet of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei on antioxidant and histopathological responses after exposure to ammonia. The shrimps were fed two experimental diets: control and with 10% of açaí inclusion (W/W), for 35 days. Afterwards, the organisms were exposed at four concentrations of ammonia (0.01‐control; 0.26; 0.48 and 0.91 mg NH₃‐N L^?1) for 96 hr. The total antioxidant capacity (ACAP) of the gills decreased significantly in both diets when exposed to ammonia, whereas in the muscle, the açaí promoted an increase in ACAP. Concomitantly, lipid peroxidation levels increased in the gills and decreased in muscle. After exposure to ammonia, glutathione‐S‐transferase activity increased in hepatopancreas in shrimps fed with açaí facilitating the detoxification of lipid peroxidation by‐products, and the concentration of protein sulfhydryl groups decreased in the gills and muscle of the shrimp of the control diet, evidencing protein damage, an unobserved response in shrimps that received the açaí diet. Histopathological changes decreased in açaí‐fed shrimps about the control diet after exposure to ammonia. It is concluded that açaí mitigated ammonia‐induced histopathological changes, improved the antioxidant defence system (gills and muscle) and attenuated the lipid damage in the muscle.     

Effect of short‐term fasting and re‐feeding on growth,digestive enzyme activities and antioxidant defence in yellowfin seabream,Acanthopagrus latus (Houttuyn, 1782)

An 80‐day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the influence of different short‐term fasting and re‐feeding strategies on growth and physiological responses in yellowfin seabream, Acanthopagrus latus (2.4 ± 0.2 g) fingerlings. The fish were subjected to four different feeding regimes, and the control group fed four times daily to apparent satiation throughout the whole feeding period, while the other three groups were deprived for 2, 4 and 8 days followed by 8, 16 or 32 days of re‐feeding (F₂R₈, F₄R₁₆ and F₈R₃₂, respectively) in repeated cycles for 80 days. The fish in the control and F₂R₈ groups had the highest and the lowest total length, respectively (p < .05). Moreover, fish exposed to F₄R₁₆ had the highest hepatosomatic indices, while control fish had the lowest hepatosomatic indices (p < .05). Fish in the F₂R₈ group relatively had higher catalase and glutathione‐S‐transferase activities than other groups (p < .05). Furthermore, total protease, α‐amylase and alkaline phosphatase activities in the F₄R₁₆ and F₈R₃₂ were higher than the F₂R₄ and control groups (p < .05). Overall, this study showed that compensatory growth in weight and length and digestive enzyme activities were observed in the F₄R₁₆ and F₈R₃₂; however, the increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the F₈R₃₂ group indicated that oxidative stress remained after 80 days of re‐feeding in the liver.     

Dietary supplementation of microbial floc heightens growth and improves digestive,immune, antioxidant enzymes activity and ammonia resistance in Opsariichthys kaopingensis

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of microbial floc on growth, digestive and immune enzymes activity, antioxidant status and ammonia resistance in Opsariichthys kaopingensis. Four hundred fifty healthy O. kaopingensis juveniles (6.21 ± 0.32 g) were randomly assigned to 15 tanks. Juvenile fish were fed five experimental diets containing microbial floc 0 (B0 control), 4% (B4), 8% (B8), 12% (B12) and 16% (B16), respectively, for 30 days. Results showed that B12 could significantly enhance weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER), reduce feed conversion rate (FCR) (p < .05), compared to the control. The activity of protease, lipase and amylase in hepatopancreas and gut of B12 group were higher than that of the control (p < .05). Also, significant increases in lysozyme (LSZ), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activities of O. kaopingensis were found at B12 group (p < .05). Comparing the antioxidant capacity, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC), catalase (CAT) and ascorbic acid (ASA) of juveniles in B12 group were significant highly (p < .05) than control, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was much lower than control in gill, kidney, hepatopancreas, intestine and serum under this experiment condition. After ammonia challenge, survival rate in all dietary supplementation of microbial floc treatment groups was significantly increased (p < .05). Overall, these findings suggest that dietary supplementation of microbial floc enhanced growth, digestion, antioxidant and immune response, and increased ammonia stress resistance in O. kaopingensis. The suitable supplemental level of approximately 12% microbial floc was recommended in the present study.     

The dietary zinc requirement of a benthic fish Paramisgurnus dabryanus

This study was conducted to assess the dietary zinc (Zn) on growth and antioxidant capacity of adult Paramisgurnus dabryanus. Zinc methionine (ZnM) of grade levels (0, 20, 40, 80, 120 and 160 mg/kg diet respectively) was supplemented, providing actual dietary Zn concentrations of 24.38, 28.03, 31.68, 38.98, 46.28 and 53.58 mg/kg diet respectively. P. dabryanus with an initial body weight of 5.21 ± 0.15 g were fed these Zn supplemented diets for 8 weeks. Results showed that the weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) increased with increasing dietary Zn levels from 24.38 to 31.68 mg/kg, and then decreased above these levels. The hepatopancreas index (HIS) was the highest at 31.68 mg/kg, followed by 38.98 mg/kg. The enzymatic antioxidants in plasma and hepatopancreas firstly increased, and reached the peak at 31.68 or 38.98 mg/kg, then kept stable with the increase of dietary Zn levels. On the contrary, the content of MDA firstly decreased, and then increased. According to WG and T‐AOC in plasma, the Zn requirement was determined to be 32.02 and 32.24 mg/kg, respectively, based on regression analysis. The relatively low dietary Zn requirement of P. dabryanus may involve in the evolutional adaption of metal absorption and utilization to their habitat.     

Essential oils in diets for Nile tilapia juveniles: Productive performance and plasmatic biochemistry

The objective of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of increasing levels of a commercial mix of essential oils (EOs) from cashew (Anacardium occidentale) and castor bean (Ricinus communis) as an additive in diets for Nile tilapia. Thus, 240 juveniles with an initial weight of 35.06 ± 1.02 g were distributed in a completely randomized design (four treatments and six replicates) in 24 cylindrical‐tapered tanks; the fish were fed for 60 days, four times a day, diets containing increasing levels of EO (0.10, 0.15 and 0.20%) and a control diet (without the additive). After the experimental period, the animals were desensitized, and an aliquot of blood was collected for the biochemical analysis; they were subsequently euthanized for the evaluation of productive performance and fillet chemical composition. No significant differences (p > .05) were observed in the analyses of productive performance, fillet chemical composition, and triglycerides, VLDL, total proteins, urea and glucose. However, significant differences (p < .05) were observed in the analyses of total cholesterol, HDL and LDL. Inclusion above 0.15 of the additive showed an improvement in the levels of lipoprotein carriers, increasing HDL levels and decreasing LDL values, without interfering with the fish productive performance.