Cichlasoma dimerus responds to refeeding with a partial compensatory growth associated with an increment of the feed conversion efficiency and a rapid recovery of GH/IGFs axis

Many fish species display compensatory growth (CG), a phenomenon by which fasted fish grow faster during refeeding. However, most studies use a group‐housed fish approach that could be problematic in social fish when interaction between individuals is not considered or eliminated. Additionally, the growth hormone (GH)/insulin‐like growth factors’ (IGF‐1 and IGF‐2) axis is implicated in postnatal growth in vertebrates, but its relevance in CG is not fully understood. Thus, the aim of this work was to determine whether CG occurs in a social fish, Cichlasoma dimerus, using an individually held fish approach and secondly, to evaluate the GH/IGFs expression profile during refeeding by 3 days and 3 weeks. C. dimerus showed partial CG. The feed conversion efficiency (FCE) was higher in three‐day‐refed fish, which presented higher GH plasma and mRNA levels than controls but shown no differences in liver and muscle GH receptors (GHR1 and GHR2) and IGFs mRNA levels. Surprisingly, three‐week‐refed fish exhibited GHR1 and IGF‐2 increments, but a reduction in GHR2 expression in muscle. These results show a strong association between GH levels, growth rate and FCE during refeeding, and a long‐lasting effect of refeeding on muscular expression of GHRs and IGF‐2.     

Fructooligosaccharide supplementation in diets for tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus) juvenile: Effects on morphophysiology and intestinal barrier function

Supplementary fructooligosaccharides (FOS) were evaluated on growth, survival, gut morphology, digestive enzyme activity and expression of intestinal barrier genes in tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus). Four treatments were designed to include FOS (5, 10, 15 and 20 g/Kg) and were compared with a control (0 g/Kg) and the current commercial trout diet. Ten fish were stocked (0.25 ± 0.01 g and 4.2 ± 0.4 cm total length) per experimental unit by triplicate in a 45‐day experiment. Fish fed with 5 and 10 g/Kg of FOS had the highest average weight and total average length. Fish fed 5 g/Kg FOS showed the best growth indexes (absolute weight gain: 2.16; specific growth rate: 4.96; and feed conversion rate: 1.23) and survival (96.66%) and also had the highest acid protease, chymotrypsin and leucine aminopeptidase activities. Fish fed 5 g/Kg FOS had a high absorption area and accumulation of lipids in the liver. Finally, relative overexpression of occluding (occ), nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain‐2 (nod2) and mucin 2 (muc2) was detected in fish fed 10 and 15 g/Kg FOS. The supplementation between 5 and 10 g/Kg FOS in diets for A. tropicus juveniles could be beneficial for growth, digestive enzyme activities, gut morphology and intestinal barrier function.     

Changes in digestive enzyme activities during the early ontogeny of the South American cichlid (Cichlasoma dimerus)

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - Cichlasoma dimerus is a neotropical cichlid that has been used as a biological model for neuroendocrinology studies. However, its culture is problematic in terms...