Effects of tributyrin supplemented in a high-soybean meal diet on the growth performance and intestinal histopathology of juvenile Scophthal musmaximus L.

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of tributyrin (TB) supplemented in diet on the growth, feed utilization and intestinal health of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.). Four experimental diets were formulated with TB at 0 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg levels respectively. A total of 2016 turbot (initial body weight: 31.22±0.05g) were randomly distributed into 12 tanks and fed the corresponding diets for 70d. Results showed that fish in 100 mg/kg group had significantly higher weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) than that in other groups (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in survival rate (SR), feeding rate (FR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), condition factor (CF), hepatosomatic index (HSI), and viscerosomatic index (VSI) among all groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in intestinal superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and intestinal malonaldehyde (MDA) contents among all treatments (P>0.05), while the highest SOD activity and the lowest MDA content were found in 100 mg/kg group. The height of intestinal fold in 100 mg/kg treatment was significantly higher than that in other groups (P<0.05). However, no significant difference existed in intestinal wall thickness among all groups (P>0.05). The present study suggested that 100 mg/kg TB inclusion level was recommended in the diets of turbot to promote the growth and improve the intestinal morphology structure and health in turbot.