Abstract
Simple SummaryThe impact of arachidonic acid in broodstock diets on cyclooxygenase activity and quality of offspring was investigated on model fish species. The results have shown that arachidonic acid in the broodstock diet improves sperm motility parameters. The cyclooxygenase activity in the liver of females increased with the amounts of arachidonic acid in diets. The arachidonic acid bioconversion activity during the reproductive season via cyclooxygenase activity is involved in female fertility and embryo and larval survival and growth.A 3-week feeding trial was conducted in medaka broodstock (age five months) to examine the effect of dietary arachidonic acid (ARA) level (range: 4–23 mg g−1 of total fatty acids (TFAs)) on fertility, cyclooxygenase (COX) activity, egg size, sperm motility parameters, hatching rate and weight of hatch, survival and growth of larvae. After spawn induction and dietary exposure to 4 mg ARA g−1 TFA, broodstock were fed a diet containing ARA in the amounts: 4 (continued, as control), 5, 14 and 23 mg g−1 TFA. COX1 activity in the liver and the number of COX2-positive cells in the ovaries was increased in females fed the diets containing the two highest amounts of ARA. The highest sperm motility parameters were observed in males fed a diet containing 23 mg ARA g−1 TFA. The hatchability rate and bodyweight of hatchlings were higher in the group obtained from broodstock fed a diet containing 23 mg ARA g−1 TFA (79% and 0.66 mg fish−1, respectively) compared with 4 mg ARA g−1 TFA (50% and 0.40 mg fish−1). The average mortality of offspring obtained from this group at 7 days post hatching was significantly higher than that of all other groups.
Highlights
Various fat sources are currently used in fish feed
After the first and second of experimental of broodstock, fertility increased in of thethe groups supplemented with 5weeks and 14 mg arachidonic acid (ARA) g−1diet
These results suggest that ARA bioconversion activity during the reproductive season via COX1 and COX2 activity is involved in female fertility
Summary
The replacement of fish oil by vegetable oils changes the nutritional value in terms of the LC-PUFA (long chain poly-unsaturated fatty acids) amount [1] and may be linked to a deficit of essential fatty acids (EFAs) and the balance of Animals 2020, 10, 2174; doi:10.3390/ani10112174 www.mdpi.com/journal/animals. Animals 2020, 10, 2174 eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 n-3, EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3, DHA) and arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6, ARA) in the fish body and gametes [2,3,4,5,6]. It is known that ARA is a precursor for the synthesis of eicosanoids of the 2-series prostaglandins and can stimulate testicular testosterone, the production of steroid hormones, gonad development, gamete maturation, ovulation and the spermatogenic process [7,8,9,10]. ARA is involved in modulation of the immune system, thereby increasing overall resistance and, offspring survival [11]
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