The effects of blue and red light color combinations on the growth and immune performance of juvenile steelhead trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Abstract

To examine the growth and immune response of steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) under conditions of differing light color, we investigated the effects of different red and blue light color combinations on plasma non-specific immunity, hepatic antioxidant capacity, and GH/IGF-1 axis gene expression in juvenile steelhead trout (initial weight: 34.67 ± 2.69 g). The 16-week trial was set up with six treatments in which light color varied at a constant light intensity of 150 lx: 12 h white light + 12 h dark (12 W), 12 h blue light + 12 h dark (12B), 12 h red light + 12 h dark (12 R), 1.5 h blue light + 9 h red light + 1.5 h blue light + 12 h dark (3B9R), 3 h blue light + 6 h red light + 3 h blue light + 12 h dark (6B6R), total 12 h of blue and red light + 12 h dark (T12BR). The results revealed that the 12B and 3B9R light environments significantly enhanced plasma immunoglobulin M levels in steelhead trout, and that the 3B9R light environment also promoted significant increases in the gene expression of hepatic growth hormone receptor, insulin-like growth factor 1, and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein. The 3B9R light environment was also found enhance the antioxidant capacity of trout by increasing hepatic superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities. In contrast, trout exposed to the 6B6R light environment showed significant reductions in growth and immune performance, and there were similar reductions in hepatic antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, fish exposed to the 12R light environment were found to be characterized by elevated levels of lipid peroxidation and malondialdehyde, which are indicative of hepatic stress. In addition, we observed that in response to light variation, there were elevations in the activities of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and lactic dehydrogenase in the plasma of steelhead trout, thereby indicating an inhibition of cardiomyocyte function. In summary, our findings indicate that a 3B9R light environment simulates the blue-red-blue daily rhythm of light color variation in natural underwater environments, which is beneficial with respect to enhancing the growth and immunity of steelhead trout, and could accordingly be used to provide suitable light conditions in commercial trout production. However, sudden changes in light color should be avoided in the aquaculture of trout.