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Methionine (Met) is one of the most important amino acids in fish feed. The effects of dietary Met on lipid deposition in fish varied a lot among different studies. The present study was aimed at investigating the effects of dietary Met supplementation on the lipid accumulation in tiger puffer, which have a unique lipid storage pattern. Crystalline L-Met was supplemented to a low-fishmeal control diet to obtain two experimental diets with a low (1.1% of dry weight, L-MET) or high Met level (1.6% of dry weight, H-MET). A 67-day feeding trial was conducted with juvenile tiger puffer (average initial weight, 13.83 g). Each diet was fed to triplicate tanks (30 fish in each tank). The results showed that the total lipid contents in whole-body and liver significantly increased with increasing dietary Met levels. The hepatosomatic index, weight gain, and total bile acid content in serum showed similar patterns in response to dietary Met treatments, while the lipid content in muscle was not affected. The hepatic contents of 18-carbon fatty acids were elevated by dietary Met supplementation. The Hepatic mRNA expression of lipogenetic gene such as FAS, GPAT, PPARγ, ACLY, and SCD1 was down-regulated, while the gene expression of lipolytic genes ACOX1 and HSL, as well as that of ApoB100, were up-regulated by increasing dietary Met levels. The hepatic lipidomics of experimental fish was also analyzed. In conclusion, increasing dietary Met levels (0.61%, 1.10%, and 1.60%) increased the hepatic lipid accumulation in tiger puffer. The mechanisms involved warrant further studies., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary DHA and EPA on gonadal steroidogenesis in mature females and males, with a feeding trial on tongue sole, a typical marine teleost with sexual dimorphism. Three experimental diets differing basically in DHA:EPA ratio, that is, 0·68 (diet D:E-0·68), 1·09 (D:E-1·09) and 2·05 (D:E-2·05), were randomly assigned to nine tanks of 3-year-old tongue sole (ten females and fifteen males in each tank). The feeding trail lasted for 90 d before and during the spawning season. Fish were reared in a flowing seawater system and fed to apparent satiation twice daily. Compared with diet D:E-0·68, diet D:E-1·09 significantly enhanced the oestradiol production in females, whereas diet D:E-2·05 significantly enhanced the testosterone production in males. In ovaries, diet D:E-1·09 induced highest mRNA expression of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, 17α-hydroxylase (P450c17) and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD). In testes, diet 2·05 resulted in highest mRNA expression of FSHR, cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme, P450c17 and 3β-HSD. Fatty acid profiles in fish tissues reflected closely those of diets. Female fish had more gonadal EPA content but less DHA content than male fish, whereas there was a reverse observation in liver. In conclusion, the dietary DHA:EPA ratio, possibly combined with the dietary EPA:arachidonic acid ratio, differentially regulated sex steroid hormone synthesis in mature female and male tongue soles. Females seemed to require more EPA but less DHA for the gonadal steroidogenesis than males. The results are beneficial to sex-specific nutritive strategies in domestic teleost.

This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of oxidised dietary lipids and high-dose vitamin E (VE) on growth performance and immune responses of large yellow croaker. Juvenile fish (initial average body weight of 7·82 (sem 0·68) g) were fed diets containing either fresh fish oil (fresh diet, peroxide value (POV)=1·72 mEq/kg) or fish oil oxidised to varying degrees (oxidised diets, POV=28·29-104·21 mEq/kg), with or without supplementary 600 mg VE/kg diet, for 10 weeks in floating cages. Growth was significantly lower and feed intake (g/100 g body weight per d) was higher in fish fed the oxidised diet. Supplementation with VE increased the growth of fish fed the oxidised diets, but significantly decreased the growth of fish fed the fresh diet. Hepatosomatic index increased with increasing dietary POV and decreased with VE supplementation. Hepatic catalase activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde content were significantly higher in fish fed the oxidised diets, and these values decreased significantly following VE supplementation. However, hepatic SOD activity was enhanced by VE supplementation in fish fed the fresh diet. Air-exposure mortality was significantly increased by dietary POV, and this effect was inhibited by VE supplementation. These results suggest that dietary oxidised fish oil could stimulate the activities of antioxidant defence enzymes in stressed large yellow croaker. High-dose VE supplementation can alleviate oxidative stress of large yellow croaker fed oxidised fish oil, but can exert deleterious effects on fish in the absence of oxidative stress.

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid (n-3 HUFA) on growth, nonspecific immunity, expression of some immune related genes and disease resistance of juvenile large yellow croaker (Larmichthys crocea) following natural infestation of parasites (Cryptocaryon irritans). Six isoproteic and isolipidic diets were formulated with graded levels of n-3 HUFA ranging from 0.15% to 2.25% of the dry weight and the DHA/EPA was approximately fixed at 2.0. Each diet was randomly allocated to triplicate groups of fish in floating sea cages (1.0 × 1.0 × 1.5 m), and each cage was stocked with 60 fish (initial average weight 9.79 ± 0.6 g). Fish were fed twice daily (05:00 and 17:00) to apparent satiation for 58 days. Results showed that moderate n-3 HUFA level (0.98%) significantly enhanced growth compared with the control group (0.15% HUFA) (P < 0.05), while higher n-3 HUFA levels (1.37%, 1.79% and 2.25%) had detrimental effects on the growth though no significance was found (P > 0.05). Nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) positive leucocytes percentage of head kidney and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased with increasing n-3 HUFA from 0.15% to 0.60%, and decreased with further increase of n-3 HUFA from 0.60% to 2.25% (P < 0.05). Serum lysozyme activity increased significantly as n-3 HUFA increased from 0.15% to 1.37%, and then decreased with n-3 HUFA from 1.37% to 2.25% (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in phagocytosis index (PI) of head kidney leucocytes among dietary treatments (P > 0.05). The hepatic mRNA expression of Toll-like receptor 22 (TLR22) and Myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) was significantly up-regulated in fish fed the diets with low or moderate levels, while in kidney this increment was only found at specific sampling time during the natural infestation of parasites. The 13 d cumulative mortality rate following natural infestation of parasites decreased with n-3 HUFA increased from 0.15% to 0.60% (P < 0.05), and significantly increased with n-3 HUFA from 0.60% to 2.25% (P < 0.05). Results of this study suggested that fish fed low or moderate dietary n-3 HUFA had higher growth, nonspecific immune responses, expression levels of some immune related genes and disease resistance of large yellow croaker following natural infestation of parasites and dietary n-3 HUFA may regulate fish immunity and disease resistance by altering the mRNA expression levels of TLR22 and MyD88., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of imbalanced dietary BCAAs, especially Leu, on the growth and BCAA metabolism in turbot. A control diet was formulated by keeping optimum levels of Leu, Ile and Val. Four experimental diets were prepared by removing supplemental crystalline Leu (deficiency) or supplementing double the amount of Leu, Ile or Val (excess) in the control diet. The growth was not significantly decreased by an excess of Leu, Ile or Val. Fish fed an excess of any particular BCAA significantly increased its postprandial (2 and 6 h) concentration in the plasma, muscles, and liver, but did not decrease the other two BCAA concentrations. The expression of intestinal b0at1 was down-regulated by excessive dietary Leu, Ile or Val. For BCAA catabolism, the mRNA levels of bcat2 in the muscles as well as bckdha and bckdhb in the livers of the Leu-deficient group were the lowest among all the groups, but were up-regulated by excess dietary Leu, Ile or Val. In conclusion, in terms of growth, turbot had high plasticity to an excess of any particular BCAA. Meanwhile, the antagonistic effect caused by an excess of one BCAA were reflected in intestinal amino acid absorption and BCAA catabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Booming fish farming results in relative shortage of fish oil (FO), making it urgent to explore alternative lipid sources. This study comprehensively investigated the efficacy of FO replacement with poultry oil (PO) in diets of tiger puffer (average initial body weight, 12.28 g). An 8-week feeding trial was conducted with experimental diets, in which graded levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%, named FO-C, 25PO, 50PO, 75PO, and 100PO, respectively) of FO were replaced with PO. The feeding trial was conducted in a flow-through seawater system. Each diet was fed to triplicate tanks. The results showed that FO replacement with PO did not significantly affect the growth performance of tiger puffer. FO replacement with PO at 50-100% even slightly increased the growth. PO feeding also had marginal effects on fish body composition, except that it increased the liver moisture content. Dietary PO tended to decrease the serum cholesterol and malondialdehyde content but increase the bile acid content. Increasing levels of dietary PO linearly upregulated the hepatic mRNA expression of the cholesterol biosynthesis enzyme, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, whereas high levels of dietary PO significantly upregulated the expression of the critical regulatory enzyme of bile acid biosynthesis, cholesterol 7-alpha-hydroxylase. In conclusion, poultry oil is a good substitution for fish oil in the diets of tiger puffer. Poultry oil could replace 100% added fish oil in the diet of tiger puffer, without adverse effects on growth and body composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 65‐day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of dietary lipid on intestinal health of tiger puffer. Three experimental diets were formulated, differing in lipid level, that is, 90.3 (control‐suitable lipid, C‐SL), 130.3 (moderately high lipid, MHL) and 170.3 (extremely high lipid, EHL) g/kg dry matter. The results showed that with increasing dietary lipid levels, the activities of total antioxidant capacity, Na+ K+‐ATP, amylase and trypsin were significantly decreased by diets MHL and EHL. Compared with C‐SL, the mRNA expression of the intestinal tight junction proteins (Claudin14, Claudin18, junctional adhesion molecule‐A) were significantly down‐regulated and the serum diamine oxidase enzyme activity was significantly increased in the EHL group. Diet EHL up‐regulated the gene expression of the pro‐inflammatory cytokines, tumour necrosis factor‐α, interferon‐2, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐8 and IL‐15, and down‐regulated that of anti‐inflammatory cytokine transforming growth factor ‐β. Sequencing of intestinal bacterial 16s rRNA V4 region showed that diet EHL significantly increased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, decreased the alpha diversity of intestinal microbiota and the relative abundance of some potential beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Sphingomonas and Thermus. These results showed that high level of dietary lipid (170.3 g/kg) had negative effects on function status, mucosal barrier and microbial communities of tiger puffer intestine, indicating that tiger puffer was sensitive to the dietary lipid level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taurine (TAU) plays important roles in the metabolism of bile acids, cholesterol and lipids. However, little relevant information has been available in fish where TAU has been identified as a conditionally essential nutrient. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary TAU on the metabolism of bile acids, cholesterol and lipids in tiger puffer, which is both an important aquaculture species and a good research model, having a unique lipid storage pattern. An 8-week feeding trial was conducted in a flow-through seawater system. Three experimental diets differed only in TAU level, that is, 1·7, 8·2 and 14·0 mg/kg. TAU supplementation increased the total bile acid content in liver but decreased the content in serum. TAU supplementation also increased the contents of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in both liver and serum. The hepatic bile acid profile mainly includes taurocholic acid (94·48 %), taurochenodeoxycholic acid (4·17 %) and taurodeoxycholic acid (1·35 %), and the contents of all these conjugated bile acids were increased by dietary TAU. The hepatic lipidomics analysis showed that TAU tended to decrease the abundance of individual phospholipids and increase those of some individual TAG and ceramides. The hepatic mRNA expression study showed that TAU stimulated the biosynthesis of both bile acids and cholesterol, possibly via regulation of farnesoid X receptor and HDL metabolism. TAU also stimulated the hepatic expression of lipogenic genes. In conclusion, dietary TAU stimulated the hepatic biosynthesis of both bile acids and cholesterol and tended to regulate lipid metabolism in multiple ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) have emerged as important regulators of lipid metabolism and have been shown to play multifaceted roles in controlling transcriptional gene regulation, but very little relevant information has been available in fish, especially in non-model fish species. With a feeding trial on a typical marine teleost tongue sole C. semilaevis followed by transcriptomic analysis, the present study investigated the possible involvement of lncRNA in hepatic mRNA expression in response to different levels of dietary DHA and EPA, which are two most important fatty acids for marine fish. An 80-day feeding trial was conducted in a flow-through seawater system, and in this trial three experimental diets differing basically in DHA/EPA ratio, i.e., 0.61 (D/E-0.61), 1.46 (D/E-1.46), and 2.75 (D/E-2.75), were randomly assigned to 9 tanks of experimental fish. A total of 124.04 G high quality genome-wide clean data about coding and non-coding transcripts was obtained in the analysis of hepatic transcriptome. Compared to diet D/E-0.61, D/E-1.46 up-regulated expression of 178 lncRNAs and 2629 mRNAs, and down-regulated that of 47 lncRNAs and 3059 mRNAs, while D/E-2.75 resulted in much less change in gene expression. The co-expression and co-localization analysis of differentially expressed (DE) lncRNA and mRNA among dietary groups were then conducted. The co-expressed DE lncRNA and mRNA were primarily enriched in GO terms such as Metabolic process, Intracellular organelle, Catalytic activity, and Oxidoreductase activity, as well as in KEGG pathways such as Ribosome and Oxidative phosphorylation. Overlap of co-expression and co-localization analysis, i.e., lncRNA–mRNA matches "XR_523541.1–solute carrier family 16, member 5 (slc16a5)" and "LNC_000285–bromodomain adjacent to zinc finger domain 2A (baz2a)," were observed in all inter-group comparisons, indicating that they might crucially mediate the effects of dietary DHA and EPA on hepatic gene expression in tongue sole. In conclusion, this was the first time in marine teleost to investigate the possible lncRNA–mRNA interactions in response to dietary fatty acids. The results provided novel knowledge of lncRNAs in non-model marine teleost, and will serve as important resources for future studies that further investigate the roles of lncRNAs in lipid metabolism of marine teleost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To investigate the different effects of dietary α-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA) on the euryhaline fish Japanese seabass, a feeding trial followed by hepatic transcriptome assay was conducted. Two experimental diets containing 10% LA-rich sunflower seed oil (diet LA) or 10% ALA-rich perilla oil (diet ALA) were used in the feeding trial. LA and ALA in diets were characteristically incorporated into fish tissues while no significant difference was observed in growth performance and body proximate composition between groups LA and ALA. Compared to LA, ALA up-regulated transcription of 49 unigenes and down-regulated those of 311 unigenes. Quantitative RT-PCR studies on eight lipid metabolism-related genes and seven randomly selected genes were conducted to validate the transcriptomic results. Lipid metabolism-related genes ApoA1, ApoA4, ApoE, FABP1, FABP3, FABP4, FATP6, and DGAT1, as well as ribosomal proteins L9e, L13e, and S4e, were transcriptionally down-regulated by ALA. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were primarily enriched in Gene Ontology terms such as Lipid transport, Protein metabolic process, and Ribosome biogenesis, as well as in KEGG pathways such as Complement and coagulation cascades and Ribosome. The Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network based on the peptide biosynthesis-related DEGs showed that ribosomal proteins such as SAe, L4e, S4e, L15e, L9e, and L13Ae had high betweenness centrality in the dietary regulation of peptide biosynthetic processes. In conclusion, under the present experimental conditions, a high level of dietary α-linolenic acid tended to suppress lipid transport and protein biosynthetic processes in the liver of Japanese seabass at the gene expression level. Graphical abstract To investigate the different effects of dietary α-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA) on the euryhaline fish species Japanese seabass, a feeding trial followed by hepatic transcriptome assay was conducted. Compared to LA, ALA up-regulated transcription of 49 unigenes and down-regulated those of 311 unigenes, which were primarily enriched in pathways related to lipid transport, protein synthesis, and complement and coagulation cascades. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tiger puffer have a unique lipid storage pattern. They store lipid predominantly in liver. To investigate the hepatic physiology of tiger puffer in response to a moderately high level of dietary lipid, a 74-day feeding trial was conducted, followed by a hepatic transcriptome assay. Two experimental diets which had an optimal (10.44%, Control) or moderately higher (14.64%, high-lipid diet, HL) dietary lipid level was formulated. Each diet was fed to triplicate tanks. No significant difference was observed in growth and feed efficiency between the two groups, but the survival was significantly lower in group HL. The HL diet also resulted in significantly higher lipid accumulation in liver, which was reflected in the hepatic histology. The biochemical parameters in serum confirmed the existence of stress in liver caused by high lipid intake. A total of 63 differentially expressed genes between groups were observed in the hepatic transcriptome assay, which were primarily enriched in Gene Ontology (GO) terms such as Endopeptidase activity, Secretion, and Organic acid transport, as well as in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways such as Protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum and DNA replication. The HL diet tended to inhibit the protein synthesis and secretion in liver, and this was evidenced by activities/concentrations of selected proteins secreted into intestine. Genes related to liver protection and repair were transcriptionally stimulated by diet HL. In conclusion, compared to the optimal lipid requirement, a moderately higher lipid level in the diet for tiger puffer did not compromise the growth performance, but tended to inhibit the protein secretion function of liver and stimulate the processes related to liver protection and repair. The present results will be beneficial to both feed management in tiger puffer farming and elucidation of lipid metabolism characteristics in fish which store lipid in liver. Highlights • A moderately high lipid level in diet for tiger puffer did not compromise the growth performance, but lowered the survival. • Protein secretion function is the primarily impaired liver function by a moderately high level of dietary lipid. • A moderately high level of dietary lipid tended to stimulate the processes related to liver protection and repair. • The results will be beneficial to both feed management and lipid metabolism research in fish storing lipid in liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The lipid‐regulating effects of astaxanthin (ASTX) have been widely reported in terrestrial animals. However, little relevant information has been available in fish although ASTX has been used as exogenous pigment and antioxidant in fish feed. A 74‐day feeding study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary ASTX on lipid accumulation in the marine teleost tiger puffer. Four experimental diets differing only in ASTX supplementation, that is, 0 (control), 50 (ASTX50), 100 (ASTX100) and 500 (ASTX500) mg kg‐1, were randomly assigned to 12 tanks of juvenile tiger puffer. Compared to control, the liver lipid content in group ASTX50 was significantly higher, while those in groups ASTX100 and ASTX500 were lower. The muscle lipid contents in group ASTX500 were significantly higher compared to control. Group ASTX50 had the best growth performances, while diet ASTX500 seemed to have adverse effects. In the liver, compared to control, groups ASTX50 and ASTX100 showed significantly lower mRNA expressions of genes related to triglycerol synthesis and fatty acid synthesis, transport and uptake, but higher expressions of genes related to β‐oxidation and monoglycerol hydrolysis. In the muscle, compared to control, ASTX100 showed higher expressions of genes related to β‐oxidation. ASTX50 resulted in higher contents of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids but lower contents of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish. In conclusion, astaxanthin in diets for tiger puffer differentially regulated the lipid accumulation in the liver and muscle, both in dose‐dependent manners. Excess dietary astaxanthin (500 mg/kg) had adverse effects on tiger puffer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary DHA/EPA ratio on lipid accumulation in farmed fish, with an 80-day feeding trial on tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis , a typical marine flatfish. Six experimental diets differing basically in DHA/EPA ratio, i.e., 0.61, 1.02, 1.46, 1.91, 2.32, and 2.75, were randomly assigned to 18 tanks of juvenile tongue sole. Fish were reared in a flow-through seawater system and fed to apparent satiation twice daily. Compared to very low (0.61) or high (2.32 and 2.75) dietary DHA/EPA levels, moderate dietary DHA/EPA ratios of 1.02 and 1.46 induced higher lipid accumulation in fish flesh and whole fish. Although also inducing increased liver lipid accumulation, the moderate dietary DHA/EPA ratios did not compromise the fish health in terms of growth performances and hematological parameters. The fatty acid profile of fish tissues reflected closely those of the diets, but DHA had more efficient deposition in fish flesh than EPA. Excess EPA or DHA in diets down-regulated the mRNA expression of lipogenic genes in fish tissues, and DHA seemed to be more efficient than EPA in up-regulating gene expression of β-oxidation-related proteins. Both esterification and hydrolyzation of triglycerides in fish tissues seemed to be more active in groups with intermediate DHA/EPA ratios (1.02 and 1.46). The present study provided a new way to modulate the nutritive quality of farmed fish, as well as to make better use of precious LC-PUFA resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 70-day feeding trial with Pacific white shrimp ( Litopenaeus vannamei ) broodstocks was conducted before eyestalk ablation to investigate the effects of arachidonic acid (ARA) in diets for early maturation stages on the final reproductive performances. Three isonitrogenous and isolipidic experimental diets were formulated to contain different ARA levels: the control diet without ARA supplementation (C, 0.87% ARA of total fatty acids (TFA)) and two diets with low (4.65% of TFA, ARA-L) or high ARA (12.39% of TFA, ARA-H) supplementation level. The diets were randomly assigned to 9 tanks of eight-month-old Pacific white shrimp broodstock (30 females and 30 males in each tank). Shrimp were reared in a flowing seawater system and fed to apparent satiation four times daily. At the end of the feeding trial, unilateral eyestalk of the females was ablated to stimulate the gonad maturation. Following the feeding trial (Period I) was a 28-day reproductive evaluation period (Period II), during which all shrimps were fed the same fresh invertebrate ingredients (a mixture of squid and polychaetes). Tissues samples of females were collected at the end of the feeding trial (Period I) and before spawning (ready to spawn) at the reproductive evaluation period (Period II) respectively to measure the gonadosomatic index (GI), hepatopancreas index (HI), estradiol level, and fatty acid composition. The spawning performance and quality of egg and larvae were assayed at Period II. The results showed that compared to the control group, ARA-L increased the GI at Period II while the ARA supplemented diets increased the estradiol synthesis at Period I. The HI was not influenced by dietary ARA level. Compared to the control group, ARA-L but not ARA-H significantly increased the spawning rate, multi-spawning rate, average spawning frequency and fecundity of female shrimp, diameter of fertilized egg, and crude metamorphosis rate of nauplii at 33 h post spawning. The hatching rate significantly ranked as follows: C < ARA-H < ARA-L. The dietary ARA supplementation significantly improved the duration of nauplius and zoea larvae in the challenge test with low salinity. The experimental diets significantly affected the fatty acid compositions in hepatopancreas and ovaries of female shrimp, as well as those in fertilized eggs. In conclusion, these results suggested that the ARA supplementation in the diets for early maturation stages enhanced the final reproductive performances of Pacific white shrimp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3-month feeding trial with tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis broodstock was conducted before and during the spawning season to investigate the effects of dietary arachidonic acid (ARA) on the production of sex steroid hormones and gonadal gene expression of key proteins in steroidogenesis. Three isonitrogenous and isolipidic experimental diets were formulated to contain different ARA levels: the control diet without ARA supplementation (C, 0.58% ARA of total fatty acids (TFA)) and two diets with low (5.14% of TFA, ARA-L) or high ARA (15.44% of TFA, ARA-H) supplementation. The diets were randomly assigned to 9 tanks of 3-year-old tongue sole (10 females and 15 males in each tank). Fish were reared in a flowing seawater system and fed to apparent satiation twice daily. At the end of the feeding trial, tissue samples from mature females (MF, with spontaneous ovulation), immature females (IMF, early vitellogenesis), and mature males (MM, expressing milt) were collected to assay the production of sex steroid hormones, gonadal gene expression of sex steroid-synthesizing proteins, as well as the fatty acid profiles of gonad, liver and muscle lipids. Results showed that ARA supplementation significantly reduced the estradiol production in females, but stimulated the testosterone production in males. ARA supplementation significantly reduced the mRNA expression of aromatase in ovaries but significantly increased the gene expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) in testes. In mature ovaries, diet ARA-L significantly reduced the gene expression of follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD; however, in immature ovaries, it significantly increased the gene expression of FSHR, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450ssc), 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD. In all gonads, 17α-hydroxylase (P450c17) responded to dietary ARA differently from other sex steroid-synthesizing proteins. ARA was preferentially accumulated in tongue sole gonad lipids. ARA concentrations were highest in gonad, liver and muscle lipids of MM fish and lowest in MF fish. Compared to female tongue sole, males had higher DHA concentrations in gonad lipids, but lower concentrations in liver lipids. In conclusion, results suggest dietary ARA regulates sex steroid hormone synthesis in tongue sole broodstock, and accumulates in gonad lipids, depending on both fish gender and maturation stage. Dietary ARA supplementation appears more important for male fish than for female fish, and more important for immature females than for mature females. Statement of relevance This study is beneficial to the broodstock diet formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium (Cr) has been reported to enhance carbohydrate utilization in animals. This study investigated the effects of supplementation with dietary chromium polynicotinate (Cr-Nic) on the growth, tissue chromium retention, and feed utilization in juvenile Japanese seabass Lateolabrax japonicus. Six diets containing 42% crude protein (CP) were supplemented with 0 (42%CP-control), 5, 10, 20, 40, or 80 mg Cr-Nic kg−1 diet; another diet containing 45% crude protein with no Cr-Nic supplementation (45%CP-control) was also formulated to test whether the dietary protein level can be lowered through Cr-Nic supplementation. Wheat starch was used as the carbohydrate source for all diets. Each diet was fed for 10 weeks to triplicate groups of seabass with an initial body weight of 9.35 ± 0.79 g. Fish fed diets supplemented with 5 and 10 mg kg−1 Cr-Nic had a significantly greater specific growth rate (SGR) compared with fish fed all other diets other than those fed a diet with 20 mg kg−1 Cr-Nic. Fish fed 5 or 10 mg Cr-Nic kg−1 diets had a significantly higher feed efficiency (FE) and protein efficiency ratio, but significantly lower feed intake compared with fish fed a 42%CP-control diet. Tissue Cr concentrations were significantly and positively correlated, whereas Cr-Nic retention efficiency was negatively correlated, with dietary Cr-Nic supplementation. Analysis of SGR and FE by second-order regression indicated that the optimal level of Cr-Nic supplementation for L. japonicas was 6.4–9.5 mg kg−1 diet. Thus, dietary supplementation with Cr-Nic enabled a reduction in dietary protein content of at least 3% without negatively impacting seabass growth. • Chromium polynicotinate supplementation improved the growth performance of, and feed utilization by Japanese seabass. • A protein-sparing effect was induced by Cr supplementation. • Cr deposition in fish was positively related to dietary Cr-Nic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Starvation and high dietary lipid synergistically increased the muscle lipid. • Starvation mobilized different fatty acids among different tissues of turbot. • The subcutaneous tissue around the fin appears to be a pure lipid storage site. • Starvation affected some muscle texture parameters in a time-dependent manner. • Combined use of starvation and dietary lipid change well regulates fillet quality. The present study was aimed at investigating the interactive effects of starvation and dietary lipid level in the previous feeding period on lipid-related composition of turbot. Turbot with an average initial body weight of 26 g were firstly fed diets with different lipid levels, namely, 8%, 12%, and 16%, for 9 weeks, and then subjected to starvation for 30 days. Each diet was fed to sextuplicate tanks of 35 fish in the feeding trial. Tissue samples were collected at the end of the feeding trial and at 10, 20, and 30 days after starvation. The results showed that 30-day starvation decreased the lipid content in the liver and the subcutaneous tissue around the fin (STF), but increased the lipid content in the muscle. A synergetic increase of muscle lipid by starvation and dietary lipid level was observed. Starvation mobilized different fatty acids among the three tissues, namely, MUFA (16:1n-7 and 18:1n-9) in the muscle, SFA (14:0 and 16:0), MUFA (16:1n-7, 18:1n-9 and 20:1n-9), and 18C-PUFA (18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3) in the liver, and unexpectedly n-3 PUFA (18:3n-3, EPA, and DHA) in the STF, respectively. The 30-day starvation decreased the muscle hardness and resilience, but affected other texture parameters in a starvation time-dependent manner. Up-regulation of expression of lipolytic genes by starvation occurred later in the STF than in the liver. Interactive effects of starvation and dietary lipid level were observed mainly on tissue fatty acid compositions. Results of this study suggested that combined manipulation of starvation time and dietary lipid level could be used as an effective means of fish quality regulation in terms of lipid/fatty acid-related composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nine-week feeding trial was conducted to comprehensively investigate the effects of different levels of dietary lipid on intestinal physiology of juvenile turbot. Three diets with different lipid levels (8%, 12% and 16%) were formulated, which were designated as the low-lipid group (LL), medium-lipid group (ML) and high-lipid group (HL), respectively. Each diet was fed to six replicate tanks, and each tank was stocked with 35 fish. The results revealed that medium dietary lipid (12%) increased the activities of intestinal digestive enzymes and brush border enzymes. Excessive dietary lipid (16%) decreased the intestinal antioxidative enzyme levels and increased the lipid peroxidation pressure. In addition, HL stimulated the occurrence of intestinal inflammation and significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Dietary LL and HL induced the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells. Sequencing of bacterial 16 s rRNA V4 region indicated that the abundance and diversity of intestinal microflora in fish fed with medium lipid diet (12%) were significantly higher than those in other groups, indicating the intestinal microflora ecology in group ML was more balanced. MetaStat analysis indicated that both low- and high-lipid diets significantly reduced the relative abundance of intestinal beneficial bacteria. In conclusion, results of this study demonstrated the sensitivity of intestinal health and microbiota to dietary lipid levels. From the perspective of microecological balance, medium dietary lipid (12%) was more conducive to maintaining the intestinal microflora stability of turbot. [Display omitted] • Medium dietary lipid (12%) enhanced intestinal digestion and brush border enzyme. • Excess dietary lipid (16%) decreased the intestinal antioxidative capacity. • Medium dietary lipid resulted in balanced intestinal microflora. • Dietary lipid of 8% and 16% tended to stimulate intestinal inflammation. • The health status of turbot is sensitive to dietary lipid level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]