Diet high in α-linolenic acid up-regulates fatty acids biosynthesis-relate gene expression in the hepatopancreas of Yellow River carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Abstract

Little information on the effects of a high α-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3) diet on fatty acid composition and lipid-producing gene expression in the hepatopancreas from Yellow River carp (Cyprinus carpio). In the study, 60 common carp juveniles were fed for 50 days, a high α-linolenic acid diet supplemented with linseed oil (LO), and a control diet without the addition of linseed oil to evaluate the effect on lipid composition and gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR-α), delta-6 fatty acid desaturase (delta-6-Fad), stearoyl-CoA-desaturase (SCD), and fatty acid desaturase-5 (Elovl5) in the hepatopancreas. The results showed that increased levels of C20:4n-6, C18:3n-3, C20:5n-3, and C22:5n-3 were observed in LO treated Yellow River carp hepatopancreas. PPAR-α, delta-6-Fad and Elovl5 gene expression was up-regulated in the Yellow River carp’s hepatopancreas fed with a high α-linolenic acid diet (P < 0.05), while SCD gene was down-regulated. In conclusion, the addition of α-linolenic acid to the Yellow River carp diet affected gene expression (SCD, PPAR, delta-6-Fad, and Elov15) involved in regulating fatty acid (FA) profile Yellow River carp. It is suggested that delta-6-Fad, Elovl5, and PPAR-α be essential messengers responsible for translating nutritional stimuli into gene expression changes in the hepatopancreas.