Effects of dietary astaxanthin on lipopolysaccharide-induced oxidative stress, immune responses and glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-related gene expression in Channa argus

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary astaxanthin (AX) supplementation on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress, immune responses and glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-related gene expression in Channa argus. A basal diet was supplemented with AX at 0, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg feed for 56 days. The results showed that after LPS challenge, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GSH-Rt), lysozyme (LZM), complement 3 (C3), complement 4 (C4) were significantly reduced (P < .05), while malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were significantly increased (P < .05) in liver, spleen, kidney and intestine. Dietary AX supplementation could alleviate LPS induced above changes in C. argus. Dietary AX supplementation significantly increased (P < .05) gene expression levels including heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) after LPS challenge. The protective effects of AX on LPS-induced oxidative damage is associated with promoting the levels of antioxidant enzymes and immune parameters. In addition, AX can attenuate LPS-induced inflammation response by up-regulating GR-related gene expression in C. argus.