Carbohydrate utilization by juvenile silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell). I. Uptake and clearance of monosaccharides following intraperitoneal injection

Abstract Intraperitoneal carbohydrate tolerance tests were done to assess the ability of silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus, to utilize the predominant monosaccharides in plant ingredients currently being used in the formulation of aquaculture feeds for this species. Preliminary experiments carried out to assess baseline plasma glucose concentrations indicated that blood glucose levels were elevated within 2 min of handling and silver perch required a period of 48 h without feeding before plasma glucose levels remained constant. In the first carbohydrate test, either glucose, galactose or xylose were administered by injection into the intraperitoneal cavity at a dose rate of 1 g carbohydrate kg^?1 body weight (BW). In the second carbohydrate test, glucose was administered at a dose rate of either 2 or 4 g glucose kg BW^?1. Following injection, uptake and clearance rate of the carbohydrates from the blood stream was monitored over a 24‐h period. Silver perch were significantly more efficient at the uptake and clearance of glucose from the blood stream than xylose or galactose. Maximum plasma glucose concentrations (22.2 mmol L ^?1) were recorded at 1 h following injection and basal levels (3.44 mm ) were attained between 6 and 12 h following injection. For both galactose and xylose, maximum concentrations were recorded at 1 and 3 h, respectively, and concentrations of both monosaccharides remained significantly elevated 24 h after the administration. Plasma glucose concentrations of silver perch administered with either 2 or 4 g glucose kg BW^?1 were significantly elevated and peaked at similar levels (30.2 mmol L ^?1 and 30.7 mmol L ^?1 respectively) 3 h after injection. Basal plasma glucose concentrations were attained in silver perch injected with 2 g glucose kg BW^?1 at 24 h following administration. Plasma glucose concentrations remained significantly elevated in fish injected with 4 g glucose kg BW^?1 after 24 h. These findings indicate that silver perch are more efficient at utilizing glucose than either xylose or galactose, and that there are also differing maximum threshold for the inclusion of ingredients rich in glucose, galactose and xylose into the diets of silver perch.