Effect of dietary phospholipid sources and levels on growth performance, enzymes activity, cholecystokinin and lipoprotein fractions of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fry

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of soybean lecithin (SBL) and chicken egg lecithin (EGL) on growth performance; pancreatic and intestine enzymes, cholecystokinin (CCK) and lipoprotein fractions of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) fry. Seven isonitrogenic and isolipidic diets were prepared by replacing 0 (as a control), 2%, 4% and 6% soybean and chicken egg lecithin instead of soybean oil in diets. Trout fry with initial average weight of 120 ± 4.08 mg, were randomly distributed in 21 90 L tanks. Triplicate groups (165 fish for each tank) of fry were fed each diet to visual satiation at six meals per day for 40 days. Dietary supplements of 2% and 4% chicken egg lecithin led to increase in fry final weight, weight gain and specific growth rate suggesting that moderate PL levels are needed during this stage of rainbow trout. Also 2% chicken egg lecithin caused significantly higher activity of amylase, lipase, phospholipase A2, alkaline phosphatase (AP), aminopeptidase-N (AN) and lower activity of leucine alanine peptidase (leu-ala) in the digestive tract of fry than those in control group. Furthermore, fry fed 2% chicken egg lecithin had a higher ratio of AN/leu-ala and AP/leu-ala than that in the control group. Chicken egg lecithin increased significantly cholecystokinin (CCK) and chylomicron fractions of fry compared to control group. It is noteworthy that soybean lecithin had moderate effect on final growth, weight gain and specific growth rate of fry and induced significantly higher activity of amylase, lipase, phospholipase A2 and secretion of CCK compared to control group. The results of this study indicate that dietary supplementation 2% chicken egg lecithin indirectly through some biochemical parameters improves growth performance of rainbow trout fry.