Gut transit of daily consecutive meals in greater amberjack juveniles reared at different temperatures

Feed passage time throughout the digestive tract of three daily consecutive meals containing three different inert markers respectively and the gut luminal ionic conditions generated during a daily cycle have been examined in juveniles of greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) growing at 18, 22 and 26 °C of water temperature. As expected, transit time tended to decrease with increasing temperature in the tested range. However, each meal progressed in a different manner affecting the ionic daily pattern within the tract lumen and the residence time within the different gut segments, two parameters of primary importance for the digestion efficiency. At 22 and 26 °C the gastric acidification effort was focused on the first meal whilst at 18 °C it was on the second and third meal. Intestinal alkalinisation was maintained during more hours at 22 °C than at 18 °C and 26 °C coinciding with the moments of highest chyme content in the intestine. At 26 °C, the three meals transited fast enough to progress clearly as separate batches. On the contrary, at 18 and 22 °C the consecutive meals became mixed in the stomach and intestine. Transit time was progressively shorter from the first to third meals at 18 and 22 °C, while at 26 °C it was shorter for the second meal and similar for the first and third meals when 95% total gut evacuation was considered. Total transit time ranged from 12 to 24 h approximately and the posterior intestine was completely emptied before the first morning meal in all cases. Interestingly, the residence time of ingested food in the middle intestine was longer at 22 °C than at the other two temperatures.publishedVersio

Ontogeny of Expression and Activity of Digestive Enzymes and Establishment of gh/igf1 Axis in the Omnivorous Fish Chelon labrosus

Simple Summary Thick-lipped grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) feeds on the lowest trophic levels during adult stages, for which it is considered a viable candidate for an economically and environmentally sustainable aquaculture. Similar to most of marine fish species, C. labrosus produce a large number of eggs, leading to morphologically and anatomically larvae that are not completely mature and have to pass through substantial differentiation and development in their functional systems to acquire adult features. Therefore, the study of the development of digestive tract and of the growth regulation can provide useful information to adapt the feeding protocols and rearing conditions to the physiological requirements at each stage. This work aimed to evaluate the early ontogeny of key digestive enzymes and somatotropic factors at biochemical and/or transcriptional levels. Our results evidenced that maturation of the digestive system and acquisition of the adult mode of digestion occurs around 60 to 70 days post hatch (dph), when starch or other low-cost carbohydrate-based compounds could be used in formulated diets at increasing levels. Furthermore, our results implied an independent expression of the studied somatotropic genes during the first 40 dph and establishment of a functional growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor 1 axis from 50 dph onward. Abstract Thick-lipped grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) is a candidate for sustainable aquaculture due to its omnivorous/detritivorous feeding habit. This work aimed to evaluate its digestive and growth potentials from larval to early juvenile stages. To attain these objectives the activity of key digestive enzymes was measured from three until 90 days post hatch (dph). Expression of genes involved in digestion of proteins (try2, ctr, pga2, and atp4a), carbohydrates (amy2a), and lipids (cel and pla2g1b), together with two somatotropic factors (gh and igf1) were also quantified. No chymotrypsin or pepsin activities were detected. While specific activity of trypsin and lipase were high during the first 30 dph and declined afterward, amylase activity was low until 57 dph and increased significantly beyond that point. Expression of try2, ctr, amy2a, and cel increased continuously along development, and showed a peak at the end of metamorphosis. Expression of pla2g1b, pga2 and atp4a increased until the middle of metamorphosis and decreased afterwars. Most of these trends contrast the usual patterns in carnivorous species and highlight the transition from larvae, with high protein requirements, to post-larvae/juvenile stages, with omnivorous/detritivorous feeding preferences. Somatotropic genes, gh and igf1, showed approximately inverse expression patterns, suggesting the establishment of the Gh/Igf1 axis from 50 dph

Daily rhythms of intestinal cholecystokinin and pancreatic proteases activity in Senegalese sole juveniles with diurnal and nocturnal feeding

The influence of diurnal and nocturnal feeding on daily rhythms of gut levels of cholecystokinin (CCK) and the activity of two key pancreatic proteases, trypsin and chymotrypsin, were examined in juveniles of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis), a species with nocturnal habits. Four feeding protocols were performed: P1) One morning meal; P2) Six meals during the light period; P3) Six meals during the dark period; and P4) 12 meals during 24 h. Daily activity patterns of both proteases were remarkably similar and showed a high correlation in all the experimental protocols. In P1, daily patterns of CCK and digestive enzymes showed a single maximum. In P2, CCK levels exhibited two peaks. Digestive enzymes activities showed slightly delayed peaks compared to CCK, although their daily fluctuations were not significant. In P3, intestinal CCK concentration exhibited two peaks at the end of light and dark periods, but only the second one was significant. The first maximum level of chymotrypsin activity occurred 4 h after the first CCK peak, while the second one coincided with the second CCK peak. Fluctuations of trypsin activity were not significant. In P4, CCK concentration showed three small peaks. Digestive enzymes daily fluctuations were not significant, although they showed an inverted trend with respect to CCK. The daily pattern of the gut CCK content in our study is in agreement with the anorexigenic function of this hormone. Our results support the existence of a negative feedback regulatory loop between CCK and pancreatic proteolytic enzymes in Senegalese sole juveniles.acceptedVersio

Osmoregulatory Plasticity of Juvenile Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) to Environmental Salinity

Osmotic costs in teleosts are highly variable, reaching up to 50% of energy expenditure in some. In several species, environmental salinities close to the isosmotic point (similar to 15 psu) minimize energy demand for osmoregulation while enhancing growth. The present study aimed to characterize the physiological status related to osmoregulation in early juveniles of the greater amberjack, Seriola dumerili, acclimated to three salinities (15, 22, and 36 psu). Our results indicate that plasma metabolic substrates were enhanced at the lower salinities, whereas hepatic carbohydrate and energetic lipid substrates decreased. Moreover, osmoregulatory parameters, such as osmolality, muscle water content, gill and intestine Na+-K+-ATPase activities, suggested a great osmoregulatory capacity in this species. Remarkably, electrophysiological parameters, such as short-circuit current (Isc) and transepithelial electric resistance (TER), were enhanced significantly at the posterior intestine. Concomitantly, Isc and TER anterior-to-posterior intestine differences were intensified with increasing environmental salinity. Furthermore, the expression of several adeno-hypophyseal genes was assessed. Expression of prl showed an inverse linear relationship with increasing environmental salinity, while gh mRNA enhanced significantly in the 22 psu-acclimated groups. Overall, these results could explain the better growth observed in S. dumerili juveniles kept at salinities close to isosmotic rather than in seawater.This research was funded by Project "Diversificacion de la Acuicultura Espanola mediante la optimizacion del cultivo de Seriola dumerili" JACUMAR 2016 (MAPAMA) and Fondo Europeo Maritimo y de Pesca (FEMP). The authors (A.B. and J.M.M.) belong to the FishWelfare and Stress Network (AGL2016-81808-REDT), supported by the Agencia Estatal de Investigacion (MINECO, Spanish Government)

Interaction Between Dietary Lipid Level and Seasonal Temperature Changes in Gilthead Sea Bream Sparus aurata: Effects on Growth, Fat Deposition, Plasma Biochemistry, Digestive Enzyme Activity, and Gut Bacterial Community

A 121-day feeding trial was undertaken to test the effects of two dietary lipid levels (16 and 21% L16, L21) in triplicated gilthead sea bream groups (initial weight: 67.5 g) reared at two different water temperatures (high, H 23°C and low, L 17°C) in the same recirculation system but exposed to a switch in temperature after 58 days. Fish kept at H were transferred to L (HL transition, autumn shift), and the fish kept at L were exposed to H (LH transition, summer shift), while continuing to receive the same diet to apparent satiation in each group. At the end of the trial, no significant diet effect on specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion rate (FCR) were detected in fish exposed to HL transition compared with those exposed to LH transition, while gross lipid efficiency (GLE) and lipid efficiency ratio (LER) were higher in L16. After temperature changes, L16 displayed higher SGR, FI, GLE, and LER, while mesenteric fat index was reduced. After temperature changes, the combined effects of low lipid diet and low temperature conditions resulted in higher pepsin activity, while trypsin, chymotrypsin, and lipase activities were generally higher at high lipid content. The combined effect of diet and temperature did not alter the metabolic plasma profile, except for the observed final higher aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) values when combining high dietary lipid (L21) and temperature changes. Different diets showed a significantly different gut microbiome layout, only at high temperature with L16 diet resulting in a higher load of Lactobacillus. On the contrary, no dietary impact on ecosystem diversity was observed, independently from the temperature. In addition, L16 diet in the HL transition favored an increase in Weissella and Bradyrhizobium genera in the gut microbiome, while in the final condition of LH transition, L21 diet favored a significant increase in Streptococcus and Bacillus. According to the results, the utilization of 16% dietary lipid levels in gilthead sea bream should be preferred during seasonal temperature changes in order to optimize feed utilization and gut health.This research was undertaken under the MedAID (Mediterranean Aquaculture Integrated Development) project, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme, Call H2020-SFS-23-2016, Grant agreement no. 727315 (http://www.medaid-h2020.eu/). MY and NG received support from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MCIU), the State Research Agency (AEI), the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER/ERDF), and project Thermodigest (RTI2018-096134-B-I00) granted to MY

Impact of deoxynivalenol on rainbow trout: Growth performance, digestibility, key gene expression regulation and metabolism

The impact of deoxynivalenol (DON) on rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, is mainly characterised by impaired growth performance and reduced feed intake, usually with the total absence of any visible clinical signs. Despite the high concentrations of DON in the present study (up to 11,412 ± 1141 μg kg−1), no clinical signs (except anorexia at the higher DON dosage) were observed, which confirms the difficulties of diagnosing DON ingestion. Compared to the control group, the proteolytic enzyme activities (pepsin, trypsin and chymotrypsin) in trout were altered by DON ingestion. However, it was not clear if the observed impact on digestive enzymes was due to the direct action of DON, or a consequence of the lower feed intake determined for DON-treated animals. The impact of DON on the abundance of specific measured mRNA transcripts was unexpected with higher expression levels for insulin-like growth factors, igf1 and igf2, which are directly related to elevated insulin levels in plasma. This can also in part be influenced by the trypsin activity and by npy, given its higher mRNA expression levels. The apparent digestibility of dry matter, protein and energy was not affected by dietary levels of DON, however, nutrient retention, protein, fat and energy retention were significantly affected in animals fed DON. Adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) expression seems to play an important role in controlling feed intake in DON fed trout. In the present study, we have shown for the first time that DON is metabolized to DON-3-sulfate in trout. DON-3-sulfate is much less toxic than DON, which helps to explain the lack of clinical signs in fish fed DON. Being a novel metabolite identified in trout makes it a potential biomarker of DON exposure. Suppression of appetite due to DON contamination in feeds might be a defense mechanism in order to decrease the exposure of the animal to DON, therefore reducing the potential negative impacts of DON

Betydning av tidspunkt og lengde av vintersignal i RAS for prestasjon i sjø ved utsett av stor smolt

Source at https://nofima.no/.Under kontrollerte forhold i kar var det en positiv effekt av et vintersignal kombinert med brakkvann i RAS på vekst etter overføring til sjøvann. Men et vintersignal ga også økt kjønnsmodning i hannfisk når fisken gikk lenge i RAS på kontinuerlig lys etter at vintersignalet var avsluttet. Kjønnsmodning ble redusert når fisken ble satt ut på lav sjøtemperatur. Resultatene fra utsett i sjømerder viste betydelig høyere dødelighet som følge av vintersår og lavere vekst i sjøfase hos stor smolt på henholdsvis 320 og 850 g satt ut i oktober og januar sammenlignet med fisk satt ut i september ved 160 g. Resultatene fra kar med sjøvann viste ikke store forskjeller i TGC mellom de ulike utsettene, og fisk overført på 320 g hadde høyest TGC i kar. Dødelighet i kar med sjøvann var lav, henholdsvis 0, 0,2 og 1,1 % for de tre utsettene. Forsøket i kar med sjøvann viste at den større smolten har et potensial for god vekst i sjøvann, men også høyere risiko for kjønnsmodning, særlig på høy temperatur i sjøfase. Årsaken til at den større smolten var mer sensitiv mot vintersår og hadde høyere dødelighet i merder i sjø enn mindre fisk som hadde gått lenger i sjø før utbruddet startet bør undersøkes nærmere

Betydning av tidspunkt og lengde av vintersignal i RAS for prestasjon i sjø ved utsett av stor smolt

publishedVersio

Mejora de la alimentación de peces de acuicultura utilizando sus ritmos digestivos circadianos

Trabajo presentado en la Jornada “Día de la Acuicultura 2020. Investigación acuícola en Andalucía: the new generation”, celebrada en modalidad virtual el 26 de noviembre de 2020

Daily pH fluctuations in the gastrointestinal tract of Senegalese sole and gilthead seabream juveniles in relation to different feeding protocols

Trabajo presentado en la International Conference and Exposition Aquaculture Europe 2017, celebrada en Dubrovnik del 17 al 20 de octubre de 2017.Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) pH is an important factor involved in gut enzymatic capacity and the consequent bioavailability of ingested nutrients, solubilization of proteins and minerals, and modulation of the gut microbiota. Moreover, GIT pH may be affected by several factors including fish age, feeding schedule, and food quality, among others. More accurate pH measurements are needed to have a general picture of the complex processes occurring during the feed transit and, therefore, to define efficient feeding protocols. Nevertheless, the information on the luminal pH through the digestive tract in fish is scarce. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to know the ionic luminal pattern under different feeding conditions in two important aquaculture species, with very different digestive anatomies, Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) and gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata).This research is funded by Project EFISHDIGEST (AGL2014-52888-R), MINECO Spain, with FEDER contribution. N. Gilannejad is also supported by a doctoral fellowship (BES-2015-071662) from MINECO.N