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Digestive Enzyme Activity (digestive + enzyme_activity)
Selected AbstractsPerformance factors, body composition and digestion characteristics of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) fed pelleted or extruded dietsAQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 4 2009B. VENOU Abstract The effects of steam pelleting or extrusion of a commercial feed on performance of 2 g (small) and 40 g (large) gilthead sea bream was studied. In addition the apparent digestibility of diets, gastric evacuation time (GET) and trypsin and amylase activities were measured in large fish. Fish size significantly increased protein and energy productive value, body protein and lipid, liver glycogen and liver lipid, however decreased daily growth index, feed intake and feed utilization, body moisture and hepatosomatic index. Extrusion processing decreased feed intake, more strongly for small fish, and increased daily growth index, feed utilization, protein and energy productive value, body protein and lipid. Digestibility of starch and energy increased with extrusion and GET of extruded feed was double that of steam-pelleted conditioned feed (i.e. 544 min versus 284 min). Digestive enzyme activities approached maximum values after 240 min for the pelleted diet, while those of the extruded continued to increase, at higher rates for amylase than trypsin. Pelleted diet indicated higher moisture for stomach digesta, while the moisture of the intestinal precipitate indicated a higher water-binding capacity for the extruded diet. The overall results indicate a better assimilation of the extruded diet, which could result from its prolonged gastric evacuation. [source] Growth and digestive enzymes of Macrobrachium rosenbergii juveniles: effect of different stocktypes and dietary protein levels under a similar culture environmentAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 12 2009Vidya Sagar Abstract A feeding trial was conducted to study the effect of dietary protein (DP) levels on the growth and digestive enzyme activities of different wild stocks of Macrobrachium rosenbergii juveniles. Wild juveniles of M. rosenbergii were collected from the west coast of India, Gujarat (G), Maharashtra (M) and from the east coast of India, Andhra Pradesh (A), and raised in culture ponds of 200 m2 at 1 juvenile m,2. All the animals were tagged individually with Elastomer tags of a particular colour assigned to their respective stock and acclimatized for 7 days before being released into the pond at a ratio of 70:65:65 (A:M:G). Each of the two feeds, the first with 27% DP, termed the suboptimum level (S), and the second 32% DP, termed the optimum level (O), was fed in duplicate ponds at 6% of the body mass for the first 30 days and 4% for the last 30 days. The average weight of stocked prawn, respectively, in O DP and S DP fed ponds was 0.90 ± 0.04 and 1.06 ± 0.08 g for the G stock, 0.80 ± 0.07 and 1.01 ± 0.1 g for the M stock and 3.06 ± 0.13 and 3.10 ± 0.23 g for the A stock. Both the protein level and the stock type had a significant (P<0.05) effect on the weight gain% of the prawn. There was an approximate 95% change in weight gain with a DP change. Similarly, G and M stocks exhibited significantly higher (P<0.05) growth rates of approximately 90% than the A stock, although no difference was noted between the G and the M stocks. However, for protein × stock (interaction) levels, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) among the groups. Although insignificant, the survival rates among the different stocks varied from 56% to 77%. Optimum protein level showed a significant increase (P<0.05) in the specific growth rate (SGR). Feed conversion ratio, feed efficiency ratio, protein efficiency ratio and net protein utilization were not affected either due to DP, stock type or their interaction. The O × A group exhibited the maximum variation in body weight. Digestive enzyme activities were similar in all the groups, but enzymes for phospho-monoesterase were significantly higher (P<0.05) at O DP. Both the G and the M stock showed a significantly higher (P<0.05) alkaline phosphatase activity while acid phosphatase activity was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the M stock only. Overall, the G and M stocks showed higher growth responses compared with the A stock. [source] Digestive enzyme activity at different developmental stages of blackspot seabream, Pagellus bogaraveo (Brunnich 1768)AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 4 2008Laura Ribeiro Abstract Blackspot seabream, Pagellus bogaraveo (Brunnich), has been identified as a potential species to diversify European aquaculture production. Although rearing aspects have been widely investigated, little information exists on the nutritional requirements for this species. The aim of this study was to build up information on the activity of digestive enzymes at certain developmental stages of blackspot seabream in order to understand the nutritional needs of larvae and post larvae. Fish larvae were reared from hatching to 55 days after hatching (dah), and the feeding plan consisted in rotifers (5,35 dah), Artemia naupli (30,35 dah) metanaupli (35,45) and Gemma microdiet (45,55 dah). At 7, 11, 21, 45 and 55 days after hatching (dah), pooled samples of fish larvae were collected for analysis of trypsin, amylase, lipase, alkaline phosphatase and leucine,alanine peptidase activity. Up to 21 dah, the whole larvae body was used for enzymatic analysis, whereas in older larvae only the dissected abdominal cavity was used. Blackspot seabream body dry weight growth was exponential, increasing from 60 ,g at 5 dah to 30±9.7 mg at 55 dah. Amylase specific activity decreased significantly during development, exhibiting at 11 dah (0.6 U mg,1 protein) an average value 2.7 times lower than at 7 dah, and remaining stable between 45 and 55 dah (0.7 U mg protein,1). Trypsin specific activity remained constant until 21 dah (between 38 and 44 mU mg protein,1), which could be related to the larvae feeding regime. At later stages of development, lipase-specific activity exhibited a significant increase (P<0.05), being three times higher at 55 dah (8 U mg protein,1) than at 45 dah. The total activity of the studied digestive enzymes increased significantly during larval development (until 21 dah), whereas afterwards only lipase and leucine,alanine peptidase increased significantly between 45 and 55 dah. The pattern of digestive enzymes activity was related to organogenesis and the type of food used at different developmental stages. [source] Effects of ,-glucanase and xylanase supplementation on gastrointestinal digestive enzyme activities of weaned piglets fed a barley-based dietJOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 2 2009C. L. Fan Summary The effects of supplementing a barley-based diet for weaned piglets with exogenous ,-glucanase and xylanase on gastrointestinal digestive enzyme activities were investigated. Thirty-six cross-bred weaned piglets were randomly assigned to two groups with three pens based on sex and mass. Each group was fed on the diet based on barley with or without added ,-glucanase and xylanase (0.15%) for a 4-week period. The results showed that enzyme supplementation improved growth performance of piglets significantly (p < 0.05), but had no effect (p = 0.091) on average daily feed intake. The results also showed that supplementation of ,-glucanase and xylanase had no effect on pepsin activity in gastric contents but slightly decreased (p = 0.092) the pepsin activity in gastric mucosa. Meanwhile, no effect of enzyme supplementation on trypsin activity in duodenal contents was observed. However, the activities of amylase and lipase in duodenal contents were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased, whereas the activities of maltase, sucrase and ,-glutamyl transpeptidase (,-GT) in jejunal and ileal mucosa were enhanced significantly (p < 0.05). The improvement of disaccharidase and ,-GT activity may be attributed to the positive impacts of exogenous enzymes on digestion and absorption of the nutrients. In conclusion, the current results indicated that supplementation with enzymes in barley-based diets could improve the growth performance of piglets, decrease the activities of amylase and lipase in duodenal contents and increase the activities of disaccharidase and ,-GT in jejunal and ileal mucosa. [source] Dietary non-protein energy sources: growth, digestive enzyme activities and nutrient utilization by the catfish jundiá, Rhamdia quelenAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 3 2010Giovanni Vitti Moro Abstract A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different dietary carbohydrate to lipid (CHO:L) ratios on growth, digestive enzyme activities and nutrient utilization by jundiáRhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard) an omnivorous catfish native to Latin America. Groups of 40 fingerlings were stocked in 24 tanks and fed eight isonitrogenous (41% crude protein) and isoenergetic (13.5 kJ g,1) casein-based diets for 75 days. Diets had eight CHO:L ratios: 0.3:1, 1.0:1, 2.0:1, 3.4:1, 4.6:1, 5.3:1, 5.6:1 and 6.5:1, and were fed twice a day to apparent satiation. Increasing CHO:L ratio did not significantly affect growth performance. However, the highest apparent net protein utilization was observed in fish fed the 5.3:1 CHO:L diet. No differences were detected among fish on apparent net energy utilization. Whole body fat deposition decreased as dietary CHOL:L ratio increased (P<0.01). The highest fat deposition was observed in fish fed the lowest CHO:L ratio diet. Liver glycogen showed a quadratic response to the increase on dietary carbohydrate concentration, which may suggest that dietary CHO:L ratios above 3.4 can cause metabolic burden for jundiá. Therefore, despite jundiá omnivorous feeding habit, our findings indicate that dietary dextrin concentration above 15.70% (CHO:L=5.3) are not well utilized by jundiá. [source] Effect of water temperature on the growth performance and digestive enzyme activities of Chinese longsnout catfish (Leiocassis longirostris Günther)AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 16 2009Hongyue Zhao Abstract The present study was carried out to investigate the influence of water temperature on the growth performance and digestive enzyme (pepsin, trypsin and lipase) activities of Chinese longsnout catfish. Triplicate groups of Chinese longsnout catfish (35.6±0.48 g, mean±SE) were reared at different water temperatures (20, 24, 28 and 32 °C). The feeding rate (FR), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed efficiency ratio (FER) were significantly affected by water temperatures and regression relationships between water temperature and FI, SGR as well as FER were expressed as FR=,0.016T2+0.91T,10.88 (n=12, R2=0.8752), SGR=,0.026T2+1.39T,17.29 (n=12, R2=0.7599) and FER=,0.013T2+0.70T,8.43 (n=12, R2=0.7272). Based on these, the optimum temperatures for FR, SGR and FER were 27.66, 26.69 and 26.44 °C respectively. The specific activities of digestive enzymes at 24 or 28 °C were significantly higher than that at 20 or 32 °C. In addition, there was a significant linear regression between FR or SGR and specific activities of pepsin and lipase, which indicated that pepsin and lipase played important roles in regulating growth through nutrient digestion in Chinese longsnout catfish. [source] Growth and digestive enzymes of Macrobrachium rosenbergii juveniles: effect of different stocktypes and dietary protein levels under a similar culture environmentAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 12 2009Vidya Sagar Abstract A feeding trial was conducted to study the effect of dietary protein (DP) levels on the growth and digestive enzyme activities of different wild stocks of Macrobrachium rosenbergii juveniles. Wild juveniles of M. rosenbergii were collected from the west coast of India, Gujarat (G), Maharashtra (M) and from the east coast of India, Andhra Pradesh (A), and raised in culture ponds of 200 m2 at 1 juvenile m,2. All the animals were tagged individually with Elastomer tags of a particular colour assigned to their respective stock and acclimatized for 7 days before being released into the pond at a ratio of 70:65:65 (A:M:G). Each of the two feeds, the first with 27% DP, termed the suboptimum level (S), and the second 32% DP, termed the optimum level (O), was fed in duplicate ponds at 6% of the body mass for the first 30 days and 4% for the last 30 days. The average weight of stocked prawn, respectively, in O DP and S DP fed ponds was 0.90 ± 0.04 and 1.06 ± 0.08 g for the G stock, 0.80 ± 0.07 and 1.01 ± 0.1 g for the M stock and 3.06 ± 0.13 and 3.10 ± 0.23 g for the A stock. Both the protein level and the stock type had a significant (P<0.05) effect on the weight gain% of the prawn. There was an approximate 95% change in weight gain with a DP change. Similarly, G and M stocks exhibited significantly higher (P<0.05) growth rates of approximately 90% than the A stock, although no difference was noted between the G and the M stocks. However, for protein × stock (interaction) levels, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) among the groups. Although insignificant, the survival rates among the different stocks varied from 56% to 77%. Optimum protein level showed a significant increase (P<0.05) in the specific growth rate (SGR). Feed conversion ratio, feed efficiency ratio, protein efficiency ratio and net protein utilization were not affected either due to DP, stock type or their interaction. The O × A group exhibited the maximum variation in body weight. Digestive enzyme activities were similar in all the groups, but enzymes for phospho-monoesterase were significantly higher (P<0.05) at O DP. Both the G and the M stock showed a significantly higher (P<0.05) alkaline phosphatase activity while acid phosphatase activity was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the M stock only. Overall, the G and M stocks showed higher growth responses compared with the A stock. [source] Influence of dietary phospholipids on early ontogenesis of fishAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 9 2009Chantal L Cahu Abstract The aim of this paper is to provide explanations of how dietary phospholipid (PL) globally improves fish larval development, including growth and survival, digestive functions and skeletal development, and to propose optimal PL levels and sources in fish larval diets. Dietary incorporation of 8,12% PL related to dry matter (d.m.) promotes growth and enhanced survival in various species. Marine source PL, incorporating highly unsaturated fatty acids, was most efficient than soybean lecithin. This beneficial effect was explained by an enhancement in digestive functions, assessed by digestive enzyme activities and histomorphology. Nevertheless, 1.5,2.5% highly unsaturated fatty acids related to diet d.m. supplied by PL improved growth, survival and skeletal development, while 5% induced different skeletal deformities. The high incidence of deformities was associated with the down-regulation of genes involved in development, such as RXR,, RAR,, RAR, and BMP-4, observed in the early stages in larvae fed a high highly unsaturated fatty acids level. [source] Effects of dietary protein level on growth, feed utilization and digestive enzyme activity of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensisAQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 3 2010S. LIN Abstract A feeding trial was conducted using isoenergetic practical diets to evaluate the effects of the dietary protein level on growth performance, feed utilization and digestive enzyme activity of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis. Four experimental diets were formulated containing 250, 300, 350 and 400 g kg,1 protein and 16 kJ g,1 gross energy. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of juvenile crab with mean initial body weight 3.56 ± 0.16 g and mean shell width 15.31 ± 0.06 mm. Juvenile crab were reared in indoor flow-through system consisting of 12 plastic tanks (1.0 m × 0.6 m × 0.5 m) and fed diets twice daily at 6,8% of body weight for 12 weeks. Performance was judged on the basis of growth (specific growth rate of weight, SGRG; specific growth rate of shell width, SGRSW), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER). A decreased FCR was observed with increasing dietary protein levels. Both SGRG and SGRSW significantly increased with increasing dietary protein levels up to 350 g kg,1, whereas there were no significant differences for protein levels from 350,400 g kg,1. Application of broken line regression analysis to SGRG provided an estimate of 347.8 g kg,1 dietary protein for maximal growth. The highest PER was observed in crab fed the diet containing 350 g kg,1 protein (P < 0.05). The percent survival was not affected (P > 0.05) by the different dietary treatments. No significant differences were observed in the apparent digestibility coefficients of crude lipid and dry matter among dietary treatments (P > 0.05). However, the apparent digestibility coefficients of crude protein and energy in crab fed different protein levels significantly increased with increasing dietary protein level (P < 0.05). Both amylase and protease activities in the intestine of E. sinensis were studied. The amylase activity decreased significantly (P < 0.05) with increased dietary protein level and protease activity increased. Regression analysis showed a negative effect of inclusion of dietary protein level on amylase activity (P < 0.05). However, protease activities were found to be positively correlated (P < 0.05) with dietary protein level. The protein content of the crab significantly increased with dietary protein levels up to 350 g kg,1 (P < 0.05), but no significant differences (P > 0.05) were founded with protein levels higher than 350 g kg,1. [source] A dietary energy level of 14.6 MJ kg,1 and protein-to-energy ratio of 20.2 g MJ,1 results in best growth performance and nutrient accretion in silver barb Puntius gonionotus fingerlingsAQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 6 2009K.N. MOHANTA Abstract Five iso-nitrogenous (300 g protein kg,1 diet) and iso-lipidic (80 g kg,1 diet) semi-purified experimental diets with variable energy levels of 10.5 (D-1), 12.5 (D-2), 14.6 (D-3), 16.7 (D-4) and 18.8 (D-5) MJ kg,1 diets were fed to Puntius gonionotus fingerlings (average weight 1.79 ± 0.02 g) in triplicate groups (15 healthy fishes per replicate) for a period of 90 days to assess the optimum dietary energy level and protein-to-energy ratio (P/E). Fifteen flow-through cement tanks of 100 L capacity with a flow rate of 0.5 L min,1 were used for rearing the fish. Maximum specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, protein productive value, RNA : DNA ratio, whole body protein content, digestive enzyme activity and minimum feed conversion ratio was found in fish-fed diet D-3 with 14.6 MJ kg,1 energy level. There were no improvements in all these parameters with the further rise in dietary energy level. Hence, it may be concluded that the optimum dietary gross energy level for maximum growth and nutrient utilization of silver barb is 14.6 MJ kg,1 diet with a resultant P/E ratio of 20.2 g protein MJ,1 diet, when the dietary protein and lipid are maintained at optimum requirement levels of 300 and 80 g kg,1 diet, respectively, for this species. [source] Complete and partial replacement of Artemia nauplii by Moina micrura during early postlarval culture of white shrimp (Litopenaeus schmitti)AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 2 2006L. MARTÍN Abstract Growth rate, soluble protein content, osmotic stress and digestive enzyme activity were studied in early Litopenaeus schmitti postlarvae under different feeding regimens, by partially or completely replacing Artemia nauplii with Moina micrura. Growth was significantly higher in the postlarvae fed with a mixture of M. micrura, Artemia nauplii and algae (0.030 mg dry weight (dw) larva,1 day,1, 17.4 ± 2.1% day,1), together with the postlarvae fed on Artemia nauplii and algae (0.027 mg dw larva,1 day,1, 18.3 ± 1.9% day,1). Complete replacement of Artemia nauplii by M. micrura produced the lowest growth rate (0.018 mg dw larva,1 day,1, 14.3 ± 1.6% day,1) and induced the highest protease and , -amylase activities and lower soluble protein contents. No significant difference among the treatments could be detected in postlarval resistance to osmotic stress. Based on the growth results, soluble protein content, enzymatic activity and osmotic stress resistance, we determined that the partial replacement of Artemia nauplii by M. micrura did not affect the growth, the soluble protein content and the nutritional state in the postlarvae of L. schmitti. To our knowledge, this is the first reported use of M.micrura as feed for early postlarvae of L. schmitti. [source] Evaluation of carbohydrate rich diets through common carp culture in manured tanksAQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 3 2002P. KESHAVANATH Four diets (T0,T3) were formulated reducing the fishmeal (Indian) component by 100 g kg,1 from 300 to 0 g kg,1 and including proportionately increasing quantities of maize. Diets were fed for 120 days at 50 g kg,1 body weight to triplicate groups of common carp (av. wt. 2.11,2.18 g) stocked at 1 m,2 in mud bottomed cement tanks (18 m2), fertilized with poultry manure. Fish growth, SGR and FCR in the different treatments were statistically not significantly different (P > 0.05). PER was lowest for the 300 g fishmeal kg,1 diet treatment (diet T0), increasing with decrease in dietary fishmeal content (diets T1,T3). Fish survival ranged from 96.29 to 100%. Diets influenced carcass composition and digestive enzyme activity. A significant increase in lipid deposition was recorded with increasing dietary carbohydrate content. Amylase, protease and lipase activities were higher in fish fed with diets T2 and T3. The protein sparing effect of dietary carbohydrate and the economic implication of eliminating fishmeal from the diet are discussed. [source] Alternative protein sources in diets for Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus (Temminck and Schlegel): II.AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 6 2010Effects on nutrient digestibility, digestive enzyme activity Abstract An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to compare the effects of dietary protein sources on nutrient digestibility and digestive enzyme activity. Four experimental diets were formulated to contain one of the following as the sole protein source: fish meal (FM), fish protein concentrate (FPC), soy protein concentrate (SPC) and soy protein isolate (SPI). Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate aquaria stocked with 25 Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) each. The dry matter, crude protein and energy digestibility and individual amino acid availability of the SPC-based diet were significantly lower than those of the other diets. The crude lipid digestibility of soy protein-based diets was significantly lower than that of the FM-based diet. The pepsin/protease activity was significantly higher in fish fed fish protein-based diets compared with fish fed soy protein-based diets. The lipase activity in fish fed the SPI-based diet was the highest among the dietary treatments. These results indicate that P. olivaceus can effectively digest the protein from FPC and SPI (but not SPC) as well as FM. The low protein digestibility and amino acid availability of the SPC-based diet may be related to the non-protein compounds present in SPC, whereas the low-lipid digestibility of soy protein-based diets may contribute to the undigested soy protein fractions and/or the alcohol-soluble components. [source] Activities of digestive enzymes during embryonic development in the crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Decapoda)AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 12 2009Ying Dai Abstract The red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard), has become an important freshwater species for Chinese inland aquaculture because of its high commercial value and consumer demand. The aim of this study was to gather information about the activity of digestive enzymes at different embryonic stages of P. clarkii in order to increase our knowledge about digestive physiology and to guide technology for maternal culture so as to improve the hatching rate. Embryonic developmental stages were divided into six stages: I, fertilized egg; II, cleavage and blastula; III, gastrula; IV, egg nauplius; V, eye pigment forming; and VI, prepared for hatching. Pepsin-specific activity decreased significantly from stage I to stage IV. Although it increased at stage V, the activity level declined again before hatching. Both trypsin- and amylase-specific activity levels dramatically increased in the middle stages of embryogenesis, whereas at the other embryonic stages the activities of these two digestive enzymes were much lower. Lipase-specific activity exhibited a low level during all embryonic stages. The pattern of digestive enzyme activity was related to organogenesis and the utilization of yolk proteins at different embryonic stages. [source] Influence of insoluble dietary cellulose on digestive enzyme activity, feed digestibility and survival in the red claw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens)AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 1 2006Ana Pavasovic Abstract Red claw (Cherax quadricarinatus) is a freshwater crayfish species with recognized potential for aquaculture. To better understand the digestive processes and nutritional requirements of red claw, we have examined the effects of dietary cellulose on (1) digestive enzyme activity and diet digestibility and (2) survival rate, feed conversion ratio and growth performance. In the first study, a reference diet (RF) and test diets consisting of 70% RF and 30%,-cellulose or Fuller's earth were prepared. Analysis of digestive enzyme profiles revealed that amylase and cellulase activities in midgut gland (MG) extracts were highest in the red claw fed on a diet containing 30% Fuller's earth and lowest in those fed on a diet containing 30%,-cellulose. Supplementation of the RF diet with either 30%,-cellulose or Fuller's earth significantly reduced apparent dry mater (ADMD) and apparent protein digestibilities (APD). In the second study, a feeding trial was conducted using diets supplemented with different levels of ,-cellulose. A major finding was that dietary cellulose levels above 12% were correlated with significant reductions in survival rate, specific growth rate and feeding efficiency. Based on these findings, we suggest that although cellulase enzymes are present in the red claw digestive system there are no apparent nutritive benefits obtained by including insoluble cellulose in diets for this species. [source] Effect of different diets on growth and digestive enzyme activity in Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) early post-larvaeAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 4 2001R Brito Abstract Growth rate, soluble-protein content and digestive-enzyme activities were studied in Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) early post-larvae under six feeding regimens, which included combinations of freshly hatched Artemia nauplii, an artificial diet and algae. Growth (0.11 mg DW day,1) and soluble-protein content (61.8 ,g protein larvae,1 at PL10) of post-larvae fed mixed diets were significantly higher (P <,0.05). An artificial diet used alone or co-fed with algae caused the lowest growth (0.03,0.05 mg DW day,1) and soluble-protein content (13.7,15.5 ,g protein larvae,1 at PL10). Trypsin-like activity was higher (up to 10 times) in post-larvae fed Artemia nauplii and an artificial diet alone or plus algae. The artificial diet stimulated chymotrypsin activity, apparently in response to squid meal present in this diet. Amylase activity increased when post-larvae were fed the artificial diet. This was apparently related more to the origin of the starch than to the total carbohydrate level of the diet. No obvious relationship was found between enzyme activity and growth in any feed combination. Based on growth and soluble-protein content, we determined that partial substitution (50%) of Artemia nauplii by artificial diet and the use of algae co-fed beyond the first post-larval stage benefits growth and the nutritional state of L. vannamei post-larvae. [source] Comparison of continuous and batch feeding systems on maturation, biochemical composition and immune variables of the oyster Crassostrea corteziensis (Hertlein 1951)AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 4 2009Miguel A Hurtado Abstract Two feeding systems for maturing oysters were compared, one a continuous feeding system and the other a batch system in which the whole microalgal ration was supplied once daily. The maturation diet consisted in Isochrysis galbana (T-ISO) complemented with an enriched lipid emulsion. Survival and growth did not differ between the feeding systems after 3 weeks of conditioning. Maturation, biochemical composition, fatty acids in membranes and reserves, digestive enzymes activities and immune parameters in Crassostrea corteziensis were analysed. Only oysters fed using the once-daily system had vitellogenic oocytes, whereas the gonad of oysters fed using a continuous-drip system remained immature. Total and differential haemocyte counts were similar between both the systems, but respiratory burst was significantly higher in oysters fed using the once-daily system. Amylase, lipase and trypsin activities in oyster's digestive gland were similar between both the feeding systems. Total lipids, however, differed significantly in oyster tissue in relation to feeding system, with highest level in those fed using the once-daily system, but fatty acid composition in reserves and membrane were similar. No differences were found for biochemical parameters in haemolymph. These results suggest that feeding oysters using a batch, once-daily system allows more rapid initial gonad maturation without affecting general physiological condition and growth. [source] Assessment of digestive enzymes activity during the fry development of the endangered Caspian brown trout Salmo caspiusJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2009A. Zamani The study of digestive enzymes activity at Salmo caspius fry showed that enzymes were available at the moment of mouth opening on the first day post hatching (dph) and the activity of enzymes showed no significant difference from the hatching day 28 dph. An increased activity was seen between 32 and 43 dph and this activity was significantly higher than the activity during the first 28 days. In the primary stages after yolk sac resorption (43,58 dph), enzymes activity showed an increased profile, however none of them showed a significant difference between 43 and 58 dph. [source] Digestive enzyme activity at different developmental stages of blackspot seabream, Pagellus bogaraveo (Brunnich 1768)AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 4 2008Laura Ribeiro Abstract Blackspot seabream, Pagellus bogaraveo (Brunnich), has been identified as a potential species to diversify European aquaculture production. Although rearing aspects have been widely investigated, little information exists on the nutritional requirements for this species. The aim of this study was to build up information on the activity of digestive enzymes at certain developmental stages of blackspot seabream in order to understand the nutritional needs of larvae and post larvae. Fish larvae were reared from hatching to 55 days after hatching (dah), and the feeding plan consisted in rotifers (5,35 dah), Artemia naupli (30,35 dah) metanaupli (35,45) and Gemma microdiet (45,55 dah). At 7, 11, 21, 45 and 55 days after hatching (dah), pooled samples of fish larvae were collected for analysis of trypsin, amylase, lipase, alkaline phosphatase and leucine,alanine peptidase activity. Up to 21 dah, the whole larvae body was used for enzymatic analysis, whereas in older larvae only the dissected abdominal cavity was used. Blackspot seabream body dry weight growth was exponential, increasing from 60 ,g at 5 dah to 30±9.7 mg at 55 dah. Amylase specific activity decreased significantly during development, exhibiting at 11 dah (0.6 U mg,1 protein) an average value 2.7 times lower than at 7 dah, and remaining stable between 45 and 55 dah (0.7 U mg protein,1). Trypsin specific activity remained constant until 21 dah (between 38 and 44 mU mg protein,1), which could be related to the larvae feeding regime. At later stages of development, lipase-specific activity exhibited a significant increase (P<0.05), being three times higher at 55 dah (8 U mg protein,1) than at 45 dah. The total activity of the studied digestive enzymes increased significantly during larval development (until 21 dah), whereas afterwards only lipase and leucine,alanine peptidase increased significantly between 45 and 55 dah. The pattern of digestive enzymes activity was related to organogenesis and the type of food used at different developmental stages. [source] |