Dietary grape seed proanthocyanidins improved growth, immunity, antioxidant, digestive enzymes activities, and intestinal microbiota of juvenile hybrid sturgeon ( Acipenser baeri Brandt ♀ × A. schrenckii Brandt ♂)

Abstract

An 8-week growth trial was performed to evaluate the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs) on growth, digestive enzymes, body composition, intestinal microbiota, serum immunological, anti-oxidative and biochemical parameters of juvenile hybrid sturgeon (Acipenser baeri Brandt ♀ × A. schrenckii Brandt ♂). Fish were randomly divided to control, GSPs-50 and GSPs-100 groups, which were fed with a basal diet and basal diet supplemented with 50 and 100 mg/kg GSPs, respectively. Growth performance and digestive enzymes were improved by GSPs in sturgeon (p < .05). Lysozyme was clearly increased in serum when sturgeon fed with GSPs diets, while the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) displayed opposite trend (p < .05). Myeloperoxidase and glutathione peroxidase in serum of GSPs-50 were higher than control and GSPs-100 (p < .05). Serum parameters showed alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase of GSPs-50 were lower than control (p < .05). Compared with the control treatment, GSPs-100 reduced alanine aminotransferase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and increased aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase (p < .05). High-throughput sequencing revealed that adding 50 mg/kg GSPs not only modified the microbiota diversity, but also reduced the relative abundance of Aeromonas in sturgeon intestine. In conclusion, GSPs are a promising feed additive to promote growth, immunity, antioxidant and digestive enzyme activities and improve serum biochemical parameters and intestinal microbiota of hybrid sturgeon.