Digestive enzyme responses of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) fed on different levels of protein and lipid

The adaptation of digestive proteases, amylase and lipase was studied in tambaqui fed with 350, 253, 301 and 205 g kg^?1 of crude protein, and 49, 81, 113 and 145 g kg^?1 of lipid, in isocaloric diets. Digestive protease increased when dietary protein increased in stomach, where the highest specific activity was observed. Unspecific protease activity in intestine was very low. Lipase was observed throughout the gastrointestinal tract, and higher activities were observed in the stomach. However, pyloric caecum and the anterior and posterior intestines were the responsive sections to the dietary lipid. Amylase was detected throughout the gastrointestinal tract, but pyloric caecum was the most relevant amylase producer. Positive correlations were observed between anterior intestine lipase versus dietary lipid and pyloric caecum amylase versus dietary protein. Tambaqui is responsive to the food composition adapting the main digestive enzymes to the best profile.