What is the effect of astaxanthin on growth performance hepatic antioxidant in perch?

 In recent years, the extensive use of antibiotics has led to serious problems of drug resistance and drug residues in aquatic animals, which seriously jeopardize human health (Verschuere et al., 2000). Therefore, research on feed additives that replace antibiotics is of great economic value. Astaxanthin has been found to have biological functions such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune regulation (H. H. Cui, 2019; S. Gao et al., 2019).

 

Adding astaxanthin to diets can improve the production performance and health of livestock, poultry and aquatic animals (Zhu SQ et al. 2022; Zhou YF et al. 2022; Wang JY et al. 2018; Lin JK et al. 2014), which is of high value for application. Current research on astaxanthin mainly focuses on poultry, and there are few reports on astaxanthin in sea bass aquaculture. In this experiment, we further investigated the effects of astaxanthin on the growth performance, liver antioxidant capacity and blood biochemical indexes of sea bass, and explored the application value of astaxanthin in the production of sea bass.

 

1 Materials and Methods

1.1 Astaxanthin additives  

The astaxanthin used in this experiment was provided by Cangzhou City Oriental Veterinary Pharmaceutical Co.

 

1.2 Test materials  

All the perch used in this experiment were purchased from Yangzhong fishery, and the perch feed was purchased from Haida Feed Co.

 

1.3 Grouping and feeding management of test animals

The experiment was carried out in aquariums in the greenhouse of Jiangsu Freshwater Aquatic Research Institute. A total of 750 healthy seabass of similar weight were randomly divided into control group, test group 1, test group 2, test group 3 and test group 4. 5 replicates of 30 seabass were selected from each group. Each group had 5 replicates with 30 fish each. The fish were fed regularly and quantitatively twice a day, and the amount of feed fed was recorded. During the test period, continuous oxygenation was maintained, and the test water was sterilized tap water, which was changed every two days.

 

1.4 Serum Sample Collection  

Blood was collected from the anterior vena cava before feeding in the morning of day 0 and 50 of the experiment, and the blood of perch from the four experimental groups was collected and centrifuged at 2000 rpm/min for 10 min after being left at room temperature for 3 h. The upper layer of serum was sucked up by a lance, and then stored at -20℃ according to the corresponding number of the experimental groups.

 

1.5 Detection indicators and methods

1.5.1 Growth performance measurements  

During the experimental period, the amount of feed fed and the amount of feed remaining were recorded in detail, and the average daily weight gain and average daily feed intake were measured and calculated accurately. On days 0, 25 and 50, the bass in the four experimental groups were weighed at 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. The weight gain rate, specific growth rate, mortality rate, and the weight of bass in each experimental group were calculated. The weight gain rate, specific growth rate, mortality rate and bait coefficient were calculated for each group. The formulae were modeled after those of Xu Changfeng et al. (2023), and the detailed steps are shown below:

Weight gain rate /% = (final weight - initial weight) / initial weight × 100;

Specific growth rate /% = (ln final weight - ln initial weight) / number of test days × 100;

Bait coefficient = feed intake / (final weight - initial weight); Mortality /% = initial number of bass / final number of bass × 100.

 

1.5.2 Measurement of liver antioxidant capacity  

The liver tissues were dissected and collected on ice from 10 perches randomly selected from 5 experimental groups, cleaned with pre-cooled 0.9% NaCl solution and homogenized, centrifuged at 2000 r/min for 10 min and then the supernatant was transferred into new EP tubes for storage. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined by using a kit purchased from Wuhan Aibotec Biotechnology Co.

 

1.5.3 Serum Biochemical Indicator Tests  

Total cholesterol, triglyceride, serum glucose, total protein, albumin and other biochemical indexes were detected with the kits provided by Wuhan Aibotec Biological Co.

 

1.6 Data processing

 The results were expressed as "mean ± standard deviation", and analyzed by one-way ANOVA using SPSS 18.0 software, and multiple comparisons using Duncan's method, with P < 0.05 indicating significant differences, and P < 0.01 indicating highly significant differences.

 

2 Results and analysis

2.1 Effects of astaxanthin addition to bait on the growth performance of sea bass (Perca fluviatilis)  

As shown in Table 2, compared with the control group, the weight gain rate and specific growth rate of perch in experimental group 3 increased significantly by 15.8% and 6.5% (P < 0.05), and the mortality rate and bait coefficient decreased significantly by 11.2% and 13.6% (P < 0.05); while in experimental group 4, the weight gain rate and specific growth rate of perch increased significantly by 25.2% and 10.2% (P < 0.05), and the mortality rate and bait coefficient decreased significantly by 13.6% and 19.7% (P < 0.05). The weight gain rate and specific growth rate of perch in the experimental group 4 significantly increased by 25.2% and 10.2% (P < 0.05), and the mortality rate and bait coefficient significantly decreased by 13.6% and 19.7% (P < 0.05).

 

2.2 Effects of bait supplementation with astaxanthin on the antioxidant capacity of the liver of the sea bass (Perca fluviatilis)  

As shown in Table 3, compared with the control group, the SOD, CAT and POD of the test group 3 were significantly increased by 14.1%, 18.3% and 35.5% (P＜0.05), and the MDA was significantly decreased by 18.2% (P＜0.05), while that of the bass in test group 4 was significantly increased by 34.4%, 54.9% and 40.8% (P＜0.05), and the MDA was significantly decreased by 28.6% (P＜0.05). The SOD, CAT and POD of perch in test group 4 were significantly increased by 34.4%, 54.9% and 40.8% respectively (P＜0.05), and the MDA significantly decreased by 28.6% (P＜0.05). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in all the indexes between the test group 1 and 2 perch and the control group.

 

2.3 Effects of astaxanthin in bait on blood biochemical indices of perch (Litopenaeus vannamei)  

As shown in Table 4, blood biochemical parameters including total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, ALT and AST did not change significantly (P>0.05) among the five experimental groups. Lysozyme (LZM), acid phosphatase (ACP), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) were significantly increased by 11.0%, 18.3%, 35.5%, and 24.4% in Groups 3 and 4 compared to the control group,  29.7%, 74.7% (P < 0.05).

 

3 Discussion

A large number of studies have found that the effects of different concentrations of astaxanthin on the growth performance of seabass are quite different. The results of previous studies showed that the addition of 100 mg/kg astaxanthin to the bait could significantly improve the growth performance of sea bass, and the addition of different concentration gradients of astaxanthin to the daily bait of sea bass showed that the SGR, final weight, bait utilization efficiency and SR of sea bass were all increased linearly with the concentration of astaxanthin. In this experiment, the weight gain rate, specific growth rate and bait coefficient of test groups 3 and 4 were significantly better than those of the control group, and there was no significant difference between test groups 1 and 2 and the control group. Meanwhile, the growth performance of bass in test group 4 was better than that of test group 3, which indicated that the concentration of astaxanthin was crucial to the growth performance of bass, and the higher concentration of astaxanthin was more effective in enhancing the growth performance of bass.

 

Levels of lysozyme (LZM), acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) reflect the immunocompetence of bass.

 

3 Discussion

A large number of studies have found that the effects of different concentrations of astaxanthin on the growth performance of seabass are quite different. The results of previous studies showed that the addition of 100 mg/kg astaxanthin to the bait could significantly improve the growth performance of sea bass, and the addition of different concentration gradients of astaxanthin to the daily bait of sea bass showed that the SGR, final weight, bait utilization efficiency and SR of sea bass were all increased linearly with the concentration of astaxanthin. In this experiment, the weight gain rate, specific growth rate and bait coefficient of test groups 3 and 4 were significantly better than those of the control group, and there was no significant difference between test groups 1 and 2 and the control group. Meanwhile, the growth performance of bass in test group 4 was better than that of test group 3, which indicated that the concentration of astaxanthin was crucial to the growth performance of bass, and the higher concentration of astaxanthin was more effective in enhancing the growth performance of bass.

 

Levels of lysozyme (LZM), acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) reflect the immunocompetence of bass.

It improves the growth performance and reduces the mortality rate of bass, and improves the antioxidant capacity of the liver and the immunity capacity of the blood, which is beneficial to the growth of bass.

 

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