Growth Performance Of Zebrafish Research Articles

Diet with different concentrations of lychee peel flour modulates oxidative stress parameters and antioxidant activity in zebrafish

The agri-food industry generates substantial waste, leading to significant environmental impacts. Lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonnerat), which is rich in bioactive compounds in its peel, pulp, and seeds, offers an opportunity for waste use. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementing a high-carbohydrate diet with varying levels of lychee peel flour on lipid metabolism biomarkers and oxidative stress in a zebrafish (Danio rerio) model. A total of 225 zebrafish, approximately four months old, were divided into five groups: control, high-carbohydrate (HC), HC2%, HC4%, and HC6%. The study did not find significant differences in the growth performance of zebrafish in any group. However, the HC6% group exhibited a significant decrease in glucose and triglyceride levels compared with the HC group. Furthermore, this group showed enhanced activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), along with reduced levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). Increased antioxidant activity was also evidenced by DPPH−, ABTS+, and β-carotene/Linoleic acid assays in the HC6% group. A positive correlation was identified between SOD/CAT activity and in vitro antioxidant assays. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with 6% lychee peel flour can significantly modulate glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, and antioxidant activity in zebrafish.

Effects of Pyropia yezoensis enzymatic hydrolysate on the growth and immune regulation of the zebrafish

The supplemental effect of Pyropia yezoensis enzymatic hydrolysate (PYE) in fish diet was evaluated in zebrafish (Danio rerio) model. A basal diet supplemented with PYE at 0, 0.1, 1.0 and 2.0% were fed to one-month old zebrafish for 6 weeks, its growth performance and immunity index were evaluated. The increase in weight gain was significantly higher when supplementary 1% PYE which shows a positive effect on growth performance of zebrafish. In addition, crude protein content of fish body was increased in all PYE supplemental groups. The innate immune responses and activity of digestive enzymes in zebrafish were enhanced with dietary supplementation of PYE additives. Compared with the control group, lysozyme (LYZ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) content in zebrafish intestines were up-regulated in groups fed with 0.1% and 1% PYE. The mRNA expression levels of LYZ and IL-10 in zebrafish intestines were consistent with ELISA results. The content of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) reduced in 1% and 2% PYE groups. Furthermore, PYE down-regulated the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria (Aeromonadaceae) and up-regulated the relative abundance of fish probiotics (Brevibacillus) in intestinal flora. The findings in this study indicated that PYE supplementation in diet could promote growth, improve immunity and regulate intestinal flora, which made PYE considered as an potential aquatic additive.

Selenium and Zinc Oxide Multinutrient Supplementation Enhanced Growth Performance in Zebra Fish by Modulating Oxidative Stress and Growth-Related Gene Expression.

Selenium and zinc are important dietary micronutrients having antimicrobial and antioxidant roles, thereby assisting in normal development, and an enhanced immune system. Supplementation of selenium and zinc for enhancing the growth performance and reproductive capacity in fish was explored in this study. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) were synthesized by high-energy ball milling (HEBM) using a 10-h dry milling technique at a 10:1 ball-to-powder ratio (BPR) and were premixed with basal feed followed by the administration to adult zebra fish (D. rerio) (2 months old) for 30 days. Growth analysis revealed that zebra fish fed with SeNPs + ZnONPs (2 mg/ kg, equimolar mixture) had significantly higher length and weight than only SeNP (2 mg/ kg) or ZnONP (2 mg/ kg) groups and control zebra fish (p < 0.05). The average length–weight relationships were assessed by estimating the condition factor (C), which was highest in the SeNP + ZnONP group (1.96), followed by a downward trend in SeNP (C = 1.15) and ZnONP (1.11) (p < 0.05). Relative gene expression of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 was significantly high in the SeNP + ZnONP group compared to other groups (p < 0.05), which indicated that combined administration of both the nanoparticles in basal feed enhanced the growth performance of zebra fish. Intracellular ROS generation was low in the combined group, followed by control, SeNP, and ZnONP groups, indicating higher concentrations of both nanoparticles, in particular, ZnONPs induced oxidative stress. Fecundity and the development of fertilized embryos were significantly high in the SeNP + ZnONP–treated zebra fish compared to only the SeNP- or ZnONP-treated group or control (p < 0.05). These findings indicated that supplementation of SeNP + ZnONP in basal feed could considerably improve the growth performance and development of zebra fish which could be exploited for enhancing aquaculture production.

Modulation of immune parameters and antioxidant defense in zebrafish (Danio rerio) using dietary apple cider vinegar

In the present study, the effects of apple cider vinegar (ACV) on some immunological parameters and expression of genes related to immune system, growth and antioxidant system in zebrafish were evaluated. Fish (mean weight 67 ± 3.5 mg) were fed four diets with ACV at 0, 1.5, 3 and 4.5% for 8 weeks. At the end of the trial, no effects were observed on the growth performance and survival rates of fish fed ACV. Significantly higher complement titer and alkaline phosphatase activity in fish fed 3 and 4.5% ACV were observed in comparison with the control group (P < .05). Lysozyme activity was significantly (P < .05) higher in fish fed 4.5% ACV compared to the control group whereas gene expression analysis by real-time PCR showed that gene encoding lysozyme was significantly upregulated in fish fed 1.5% ACV supplemented diet (P < .05). Interleukin 8 (IL8) gene expression was also significantly upregulated in fish fed with 4.5% ACV (P < .05). Meanwhile, diets with 3 and 4.5% ACV caused up-regulation of ghrelin, catalase and glutathione S-reductase genes in fish homogenates (P < .05). In conclusion, diets supplemented with ACV especially at 4.5%-had the potential to improve immunological parameters and gene expression related to immunity, antioxidant system and growth performance in zebrafish.

The effects of dietary supplement of galactooligosaccharide on innate immunity, immune related genes expression and growth performance in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The present study investigates the effect of different levels of galactooligosaccharide (GOS) on innate immune parameters, immune related genes expression as well as growth performance in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Four hundred and twenty fish (mean weight 45 ± 0.1 mg) were supplied, randomly stocked in twelve aquaria assigned to four treatments. Zebrafish were fed with either control diet or control diet enriched with different levels (0.5, 1 and 2%) of GOS for eight weeks. At the end of feeding trial innate immune parameters (total immunoglobulin, total protein and alkaline phosphatase activity), immune related genes expression (interleukin 1 beta [il1b], Lysozyme [lyz], tumor necrosis factor alpha [tnf-alpha]) as well as growth performance were measured. Evaluation of immune parameters revealed significant (P < .05) increase of total protein and total Ig in zebrafish fed 1 or 2% GOS compared other treatments. However, in case of lysozyme activity no significant (P > .05) differences were noticed between GOS fed fish and control group. Also, in case of ALP activity, significant increase (P < .05) was observed in 2% GOS treatment. Gene expression studies revealed significant upregulation (P < .05) of tnf-alpha and lyz genes in GOS fed fish. While no significant (P > .05) difference was observed in case of il1b gene expression. Evaluation of growth performance at the end of feeding trial revealed no significant (P < .05) improvement in GOS fed groups. The present results revealed positive effects of GOS on innate immune parameters and related gene expression in zebrafish.

Deletion of mstna and mstnb impairs the immune system and affects growth performance in zebrafish

Myostatin (Mstn) is a negative regulator of muscle development in vertebrates. Although its function in muscle growth has been well studied in mammals and fish, it remains unclear whether or how mstn functions in the immune system. In this study, mstna−/- and mstnb−/- homozygous zebrafish were firstly generated using CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR associated protein 9). Deletion of mstnb but not mstna enhanced growth performance. Although survival rates under normal conditions were slightly decreased in both strains, mortality after dexamethasone-induced stress was increased by ∼30%. Furthermore, transcriptional levels of several critical immune-related genes were decreased, and the ability to withstand exposure to pathogenic E. tarda was decreased, compared with that of controls. In mstnb−/- but not mstna−/- zebrafish, expression of NF-κB subunits and several pro-inflammatory cytokines failed to respond to E. tarda exposure except nfkb1, c-rel and tnfα. Taken together, these results indicate that mstnb but not mstna plays a key role in zebrafish muscle growth. While each paralogue contributes to the response to bacterial insult, mstnb affects the immune system through activation of the NF-κB pathway, and mstna is likely to act upstream of NF-κB at some as yet unidentified target.