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Simple Summary: This study compared the growth and meat quality of juvenile male and female Nile tilapia. Males grew bigger and heavier, while females excelled in feed conversion. Males had more crude fat and ash, but moisture and protein levels were unchanged. Amino acid profiles were similar overall, though females had an advantage in non-essential amino acids. This study compared the growth and flesh quality of juvenile male and female Nile tilapia grown in separate RAS tanks. The Genetic Sex Determination method yielded 40 males and 40 females. Males grew longer and heavier than females, and the results showed significant variation between the sexes in terms of weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and final body length and weight. In terms of the feed conversion ratio (FCR), Gonad Somatic Index (GSI), and Viscera Somatic Index (VSI), females presented better results than males. Male and female Hepatosomatic Index (HSI) values did not differ significantly—no difference in blood serum values. The meat's moisture and crude protein composition did not alter significantly from male to female; however, the crude fat and ash levels did differ significantly. Male and female animals were given the same seventeen distinct types of amino acids, and there was no distinct variation in the profiles of total amino acids (TAAs) and essential amino acids (EAAs) between the sexes. However, in the non-essential amino acid (NEAA) category, there were marginally significant differences, wherein females performed better than males. Males and females differed considerably in crude fat and ash levels but not in the moisture content or crude protein composition of the meat. Regarding fatty acids, males outperformed females in terms of total fatty acids (TFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and saturated fatty acids (SFAs). However, no significant difference in the amount of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) in muscle was found between males and females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the effect of proanthocyanidins(PC) induced by amyloid-beta peptide(Aβ25-35) in human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y and its possible mechanism. Methods SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to Aβ25-35 to establish a cell injury model in vitro. PC and(or) secretory protein Dickkopf-1 (Dkk1), the endogenic inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were used for intervention. The cells were divided into control group, Aβ25-35 group, PC(different concentrations)+Aβ25-35 groups, Dkk1 group, Dkk1+ PC+Aβ25-35 group.The cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. The expressions of β-catenin, GSK-3β, p-GSK-3β were measured by Western blot. The secreted Aβ1-42 was detected by ELISA. Results Compared with the control group, the cell viability, the expression of β-catenin and p-GSK-3β were reduced in Aβ25-35 treated group(P＜0.05), while the secreted Aβ1-42 was increased (P＜0.05). PC improved the cell viability, increased the expression of β-catenin and p-GSK-3β, and reduced the secreted Aβ1-42 in SH-SY5Y cells induced by Aβ25-35 (P＜0.05). After using Dkk1,the ability of PC was decreased on the enhancement of β-catenin expression, the improvement of p-GSK-3β expression, and the reduction of the secreted Aβ1-42 (P＜0.05). Conclusions PC may decrease Aβ1-42 secretion in SH-SY5Y cells induced by Aβ25-35 through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Elucidating the metabolic mechanism of plants under saline-alkali stress will help to further optimize breeding and cultivation, thereby increasing crop yields in saline-alkali soils. In this study, to analyze the differences in cotton metabolism under salt-alkali stress, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to study the metabolites of cotton leaves under neutral salt and alkaline salt stress. The results showed that under salt stress, 7 and 2 types of sugars in cotton leaves were up-regulated in positive and negative ion modes, 3 types of amino acids were up-regulated, and 12 and 8 types of organic acids were up-regulated in cotton leaves under alkali stress. There are three kinds and five kinds of up-regulation in sugars, two kinds and nine kinds of up-regulation in organic acids, and two kinds of up-regulation in amino acids. 10 differential metabolic pathways were detected under salt stress. The most obvious metabolic pathway was linoleic acid metabolism, followed by starch and sucrose metabolism and arginine biosynthesis. Five differential metabolic pathways were found under alkaline stress. The most significant metabolic pathway was tryptophan metabolism, followed by arginine and proline metabolism and citric acid cycle (TCA cycle). Cotton adopts different metabolic mechanisms to resist salt-alkali stress. Salt stress tended to accumulate sugars and alkali stress tended to accumulate organic acids. In terms of energy metabolism, cotton starch and sucrose metabolism was more active under salt stress, and TCA cycle was more active under alkali stress. Salt stress improves the nitrogen assimilation ability of cotton, and alkali stress reduces the nitrogen assimilation ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatic steatosis commonly occurs in intensively farmed tilapia. This disease is harmful to fish growth and health, but knowledge of the metabolic changes in tilapia with fatty liver is limited. In the present study, we compared male genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus) fed a high‐fat diet (HFD) with those fed a normal‐fat diet (NFD) for 8 weeks using LC–MS‐based hepatic metabolomic assays and traditional nutritional assessments. Juvenile GIFT fed a HFD accumulated more fat in the liver than did those fed a NFD. The metabolomic analyses revealed 36 differentially accumulated metabolites between the two groups, and these metabolites were involved in 25 signalling pathways. Our results indicate that development of fatty liver severely impairs hepatic lipid metabolism, leading to blockage of the TCA cycle and further disruptions to protein and carbohydrate metabolism in GIFT. These physiological changes may be related to the lower growth rate of GIFT fed a HFD. Overall, our results reveal the details of metabolic disorders in GIFT fed a HFD and enhance our knowledge of the mechanism of fatty liver formation in GIFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 6‐week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dissolved oxygen (DO) levels on growth performance, physiological parameters and the immune response of juvenile GIFT fed with three different levels of dietary protein. Triplicate groups of fish (0.45 ± 0.01 g) were fed 30%, 40% and 50% protein diet at hypoxia (2.0 ± 0.3 mg/L) and normoxia (6 ± 0.4 mg/L). The fish were hand‐fed to apparent satiation twice a day (8:00 am and 16:00 pm). Fish growth, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were adversely affected by hypoxia. However, fish growth improved with the increasing dietary protein levels. Feed intake endured the individual and combined effects of DO and dietary protein levels. Somatic indices reduced significantly after hypoxia exposure, with the interaction effects observed on the viscerosomatic index. Red blood cells reduced with decreasing DO levels. Apart from glucose, the serum biochemical modules increased at hypoxia. Triglyceride was affected by the interaction of the factors of interest. Alanine aminotransferase, glucose and total protein contents were significantly changed by the experimental diets, wherein the excess and lower protein levels triggered the increased values of these parameters. Hypoxia diminished liver oxidation enzymes and serum complement component 3. Lipase and amylase were negatively affected by low DO. Experimental diets influenced the cytochrome C oxidase and lactate dehydrogenase in the muscle and gill; besides, cytochrome C oxidase in the gill was also altered by DO, whereas that in the muscle was affected by the interaction of DO and diets. These data show that hypoxia is detrimental to growth performance, feed utilization, liver and immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]