Search

A feeding trial was conducted to assess the impacts of dietary astaxanthin from wall-broken Haematococcus pluvialis(WBHPA) on the growth performance, antioxidant status, immune response, and intestinal health of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Six experimental diets were formulated with various concentrations of WBHPA, ranging from 0 to 8.4 g/kg (containing 0 to 125 mg/kg astaxanthin). Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of rainbow trout (mean initial weight of 561 g) twice daily for 9 consecutive weeks. The survival rate and feed intake of fish exhibited no significant differences among the dietary groups (P > 0.05). Similarly, dietary inclusion of 25 to 100 mg/kg astaxanthin did not significantly affect the weight gain and daily growth coefficient (P > 0.05), but excessive inclusion of astaxanthin (125 mg/kg) slightly depressed these parameters (P < 0.05). Dietary inclusion of 25 to 50 mg/kg astaxanthin increased the activities of intestinal digestion and absorption enzymes (lipase, creatine kinase, and alkaline phosphatase), while the inclusion of 25 to 75 mg/kg astaxanthin improved the immune response of fish. Furthermore, regardless of inclusion level (25 to 125 mg/kg), dietary astaxanthin supplementation strengthened the intestinal mucosal barrier function and improved antioxidant activity, thereby promoting intestinal development. Conclusively, 25 to 75 mg/kg astaxanthin from WBHPA was recommended to be included in diets for rainbow trout.

Limited investigation has been available on the effects of dietary phospholipids in leopard coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus), hindering its potential for aquaculture. This study was intended to investigate the impact of various levels (05 %) of dietary soy lecithin (SL) on juvenile P. leopardusover a 9-week feeding trial. Results indicated that dietary inclusion of 23 % SL enhanced the lipid content in liver, muscle, and whole-body. The fatty acid composition of muscle strongly reflected the dietary fatty acid profile. Furthermore, dietary inclusion of 3 % SL enhanced the activities of hepatic lipid synthesis enzymes [fatty acid synthase (FAS), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)] and lipolytic enzymes [hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1)]. Additionally, the inclusion of 23 % SL upregulated the relative expression of lipid synthesis-related genes [fas, sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (srebp1)] and lipid catabolism-related genes [hsl, cpt-1, and lipoprotein lipase (lpl)] in muscle. However, increasing dietary SL levels up to 45 % led to a reduction in muscle and whole-body lipid content, and an enhance in hepatic lipid content and hepatocyte vacuolization. Moreover, dietary inclusion of 5 % SL downregulated the relative expressions of hepatic lipid synthesis-related genes (g6pdand srebp1) and lipid catabolism-related genes (lpland hsl). Overall, including 23 % SL in the diet improved lipid metabolism and thereby enhanced lipid deposition in juvenile P. leopardus, but excessive SL (45 %) disrupted lipid metabolism.

To evaluate the effects of dietary pectin on growth performance, intestinal barrier, and antioxidant status of juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), 10-week feeding trial was conducted. Five isoproteic and isoenergetic diets were formulated to contain 0% (P0), 4% (P4), 8% (P8), and 16% (P16) pectin as well as 0.02% pectinase (PE) at the expense of wheat starch, respectively. Dietary inclusion of 416% pectin linearly promoted the feed intake and growth performance but depressed the feed efficiency, but significant differences were only observed between the P16 and P0 groups. Similarly, dietary inclusion of 816% pectin significantly increased the foregut trypsin and amylase activities but decreased the foregut and midgut sucrase activity. The midgut muc2gene expression level was significantly down-regulated by the inclusion of 16% pectin. Dietary inclusion of 2% pectin increased the abundance of Proteobacteria and Stenotrophomonasbut reduced the abundance of Actinobacteria, Bacteroidesand Helicobacter; while the lowest values of observed species, Chao1 and ACE indices of intestinal flora were found in the P8 group. Fish fed with the P8 diet exhibited the lowest plasma catalase and midgut glutathione S-transferase activities as well as malondialdehyde content, but the highest midgut malondialdehyde content. Dietary inclusion of 816% pectin significantly depressed the plasma growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and mechanistic target of rapamycin contents as well as alanine aminotransferase activity, the hepatic adenosine monophosphate deaminase and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activities. Dietary treatment with 0.02% pectinase did not affect the growth performance, but depressed the foregut sucrase activity, the midgut amylase and sucrase activities, increased the plasma GH and IGF-1 contents as well as hepatic GDH and aspartate aminotransferase activities. In conclusion, high-dose of dietary pectin (816%) may promote the feed intake and intestinal digestive enzyme activities and thereby improve the growth performance of rainbow trout.

Abnormal development of the atrioventricular ring can lead to the formation of a bypass pathway and the occurrence of Wolff–Parkinson–White (WPW) syndrome. The genetic mechanism underlying the sporadic form of WPW syndrome remains unclear. Existing evidence suggests that both T-box transcription factor 3 (TBX3) and T-box transcription factor 2 (TBX2) genes participate in regulating annulus fibrosus formation and atrioventricular canal development. Thus, we aimed to examine whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TBX3and TBX2genes confer susceptibility to WPW syndrome in a Han Chinese Population. We applied a SNaPshot SNP assay to analyze 5 selected tagSNPs of TBX3and TBX2in 230 patients with sporadic WPW syndrome and 231 sex- and age-matched controls. Haplotype analysis was performed using Haploview software. Allele C of TBX3rs1061657 was associated with a higher risk of WPW syndrome (odds ratio [OR] = 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08–1.83, P= .011) and left-sided accessory pathways (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.07–1.84, P= .016). However, allele C of TBX3rs8853 was likely to reduce these risks (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.54–0.92, P= .011; OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.53–0.92, P= .011, respectively). The data revealed no association between TBX3rs77412687, TBX3rs2242442, or TBX2rs75743672 and WPW syndrome. TBX3rs1061657 and rs8853 are significantly associated with sporadic WPW syndrome among a Han Chinese population. To verify our results, larger sample sizes are required in future studies.

•The coding sequence and 3′- untranslated region of Takifugu rubripes mid1ip1was cloned.•Tiger puffer mid1ip1, putatively mid1ip1subtype B, is highly expressed in the muscle and skin.•The hepatic gene expression of mid1ip1was regulated by dietary bile acid, but not by dietary lipid level.•This mid1ip1subtype may have potential roles in microtubule stabilization, but have limited functions in lipogenesis.