Glutamine use in feeding juvenile pirarucu, Arapaima gigas (Schinz, 1822)

A.P.S Ramos,J.R Luz,J.F.B Melo,L.G.T Braga

doi:10.1590/1678-4162-11546

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate glutamine supplementation effects on variables of growth performance, body composition, intestinal morphology and enzymatic aspects of juvenile Arapaima gigas. Research was conducted at the Fish Nutrition and Feeding Laboratory, where 60 examples of pirarucu (initial average weight of 82.12g) were distributed over 15 polyethylene tanks (310L), in a completely randomized design, with five treatments and three repetitions (four fish per experimental unit). Experimental diets were prepared containing five inclusion levels of the amino acid glutamine (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0%), supplied three times a day for 45 days. Quadratic effect was observed for the variables of growth performance, weight gain, food consumption, food conversion, and specific growth and protein efficiency rates. A significant effect was observed on intestinal villi at the height of the anterior portion and on activity of the enzyme’s alkaline proteases, lipase, amylase and aspartate aminotransferase. However, glutamine supplementation had no significant effect on survival rate. Inclusion of 1.02% of glutamine in the diets of juvenile pirarucu improved growth performance and influenced intestinal villi height and activity of important digestive enzymes, favoring nutrient digestion and absorption.

Highlights

Functional amino acids, especially glutamine, are important regulators of key metabolic pathways (Li et al, 2009)
This study aimed to evaluate glutamine supplementation effects on variables of growth performance, body composition, intestinal morphology and enzymatic aspects of juvenile Arapaima gigas
Quadratic effect was observed for the variables of growth performance, weight gain, food consumption, food conversion, and specific growth and protein efficiency rates

Summary

Introduction

Functional amino acids, especially glutamine, are important regulators of key metabolic pathways (Li et al, 2009). This amino acid is fundamental in regulating the acid-base balance of the body and acts as a transporter of nitrogen and ammonia (Darmaun and Humbert, 2000; Li et al, 2009). Since glutamine acts on intestinal mucosa and promotes the proliferation and renewal of coating epithelial cells, the morphophysiologic aspects of the digestive system should be considered when developing diets for specific fish species (Pezzato et al, 2004). Arapaima gigas (Shinz, 1882), are rapidly growing fish native to the Amazonian basin, able to reach 10kg within the first year of cultivation (Cipriano et al, 2016). Pirarucu is highly valued in northern Brazil because of its taste, the quality of its meat and lack of filet bones (Ituassú et al, 2005)

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