Vitamin C Enhances Vitamin E Status and Reduces Oxidative Stress Indicators in Sea Bass Larvae Fed High DHA Microdiets

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential fatty acid necessary for many biochemical, cellular and physiological functions in fish. However, high dietary levels of DHA increase free radical injury in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) larvae muscle, even when vitamin E (α-tocopherol, α-TOH) is increased. Therefore, the inclusion of other nutrients with complementary antioxidant functions, such as vitamin C (ascorbic acid, vitC), could further contribute to prevent these lesions. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of vitC inclusion (3,600 mg/kg) in high DHA (5 % DW) and α-TOH (3,000 mg/kg) microdiets (diets 5/3,000 and 5/3,000 + vitC) in comparison to a control diet (1 % DHA DW and 1,500 mg/kg of α-TOH; diet 1/1,500) on sea bass larvae growth, survival, whole body biochemical composition and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content, muscle morphology, skeletal deformities and antioxidant enzymes, insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and myosin expression (MyHC). Larvae fed diet 1/1,500 showed the best performance in terms of total length, incidence of muscular lesions and ossification degree. IGFs gene expression was elevated in 5/3,000 diet larvae, suggesting an increased muscle mitogenesis that was confirmed by the increase in the mRNA copies of MyHC. vitC effectively controlled oxidative damages in muscle, increased α-TOH larval contents and reduced TBARS content and the occurrence of skull deformities. The results of the present study showed the antioxidant synergism between vitamins E and C when high contents of DHA are included in sea bass larvae diets

Northern Eurasia Future Initiative (NEFI): facing the challenges and pathways of global change in the 21st century

During the past several decades, the Earth system has changed significantly, especially across Northern Eurasia. Changes in the socio-economic conditions of the larger countries in the region have also resulted in a variety of regional environmental changes that can have global consequences. The Northern Eurasia Future Initiative (NEFI) has been designed as an essential continuation of the Northern Eurasia Earth Science Partnership Initiative (NEESPI), which was launched in 2004. NEESPI sought to elucidate all aspects of ongoing environmental change, to inform societies and, thus, to better prepare societies for future developments. A key principle of NEFI is that these developments must now be secured through science-based strategies co-designed with regional decision makers to lead their societies to prosperity in the face of environmental and institutional challenges. NEESPI scientific research, data, and models have created a solid knowledge base to support the NEFI program. This paper presents the NEFI research vision consensus based on that knowledge. It provides the reader with samples of recent accomplishments in regional studies and formulates new NEFI science questions. To address these questions, nine research foci are identified and their selections are briefly justified. These foci include: warming of the Arctic; changing frequency, pattern, and intensity of extreme and inclement environmental conditions; retreat of the cryosphere; changes in terrestrial water cycles; changes in the biosphere; pressures on land-use; changes in infrastructure; societal actions in response to environmental change; and quantification of Northern Eurasia's role in the global Earth system. Powerful feedbacks between the Earth and human systems in Northern Eurasia (e.g., mega-fires, droughts, depletion of the cryosphere essential for water supply, retreat of sea ice) result from past and current human activities (e.g., large scale water withdrawals, land use and governance change) and potentially restrict or provide new opportunities for future human activities. Therefore, we propose that Integrated Assessment Models are needed as the final stage of global change assessment. The overarching goal of this NEFI modeling effort will enable evaluation of economic decisions in response to changing environmental conditions and justification of mitigation and adaptation efforts

Dietary supplementation with arachidonic acid in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) reveals physiological effects not mediated by prostaglandins.

Contains fulltext : 60326.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)This study aims to clarify the role of the polyunsaturated fatty acid arachidonic acid (ArA, 20:4n-6) in the stress response of Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). ArA is converted into eicosanoids, including prostaglandins, which can influence the response to stressors. Tilapia, a species able to form ArA from its precursor, was supplemented with ArA for 18 days, after which they were confined for 5 min. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, COX-inhibitor) was subsequently administered to distinguish ArA-mediated effects from enhanced prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) synthesis. ArA supplemented fish had higher ArA levels in gills and kidneys, and these levels were further enhanced after ASA treatment. Levels of total monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and ArA, were altered 24h after confinement, particularly in the kidneys. ArA supplementation had no effect on basal cortisol levels, while ArA + ASA reduced basal cortisol levels. ArA + ASA augmented the cortisol response to confinement. The combination of ArA + ASA also elevated plasma basal prolactin (tPRL)(177) and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T(3)) levels. Neither ArA nor ASA affected the stress-associated increases in plasma glucose and lactate. Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity in the gills was reduced after ArA supplementation and was even further suppressed by subsequent ASA treatment. In an additional feeding trial, ArA supplementation enhanced the renal Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity. In vitro, ArA was a potent inhibitor of the Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity of gill and kidney homogenates. In contrast, PGE(2) had no effect on branchial ATPase, whereas the effect on renal ATPase activity was concentration dependent. Modifying the dietary intake of ArA alters the response of tilapia to an acute stressor and influences osmoregulatory processes and it is unlikely that these effects are due to an enhanced production of prostaglandins

Lack of essential fatty acids in live feed during larval and post-larval rearing: effect on the performance of juvenile Solea senegalensis

Despite the large progress obtained in recent years, Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) production of high quality juveniles is still a bottleneck. This paper examines the effect of larval and post-larval lipid nutrition on juvenile performance and quality. Four dietary treatments were tested: A—enriched Artemia spp. (EA); B—non-enriched Artemia spp. (NEA); C—EA during the pelagic larval period and NEA after larval settlement; D—50% EA and 50% NEA. Juvenile fatty acid profile at 60 days after hatching (DAH) clearly reflected the larval and post-larval diet composition. Feeding sole larvae on NEA (poor in lipids and essential fatty acids-EFA) had a negative effect, reducing growth (total length and dry weight) after 30 DAH and decreasing digestive enzyme activity at the end of the rearing period (60 DAH). However, relatively good performance compared to the EFA-richest treatment (A) was obtained when larvae were fed 50% EA and 50% NEA (D) or even EA only during the pelagic larval period followed by NEA after larval settlement (C). Malpigmentation was not affected by the dietary regimes and its incidence was very low. However, skeletal deformities were prevalent, particularly in the caudal complex, independently of diet. The results confirm that Senegalese sole appear to have lower larval EFA requirements than most cultured marine species and potentially even lower requirements during the post-larval stage. The importance of studying the impact of early nutrition on later juvenile stages was clearly highlighted in this study