Starvation Period Research Articles

The Volchia Griva mineral oasis as unique locus for research of the mammoth fauna and the late Pleistocene environment in Northern Eurasia

AbstractThis paper describes the results of research at Volchia Griva, the largest site in Asia containing mammoth fauna in situ. It is situated in the south of the West Siberian Plain in the Baraba forest-steppe zone, and occupies an area of several hectares. Analysis of sediments and taphonomy of the site allows us to suggest that thousands of megafaunal remains were buried here in mud pits and erosional depressions. The favorable geochemical landscape of Volchia Griva attracted animals during periods of mineral starvation. This is reflected in the high mortality in two intervals, ca. 20–18 14C ka BP and ca. 17–11 14C ka BP. The results of palynological analysis of samples from the upper part of the Volchia Griva section made it possible to reconstruct the history of landscape changes of the Baraba Lowland during the MIS 2. Forb-mesophytic meadows were common at the beginning of this period, with taiga type forests. At ca. 20 14C ka BP, an abrupt and significant aridization of the climate occurred, which led to the degradation of forests. The mammoth steppe was widely developed, dominated by forb-grass association and with areas of alkali meadows and soils. Such conditions existed probably until the mid-Holocene.

GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus) WITH STARVED PERIODICALLY IN BEDENG MUNIR VILLAGE, SOUTH PAGAR ALAM

Abstract This time fish farmers often face constraints on the high price of commercial feed which results in low profits for the farmers. One solution to reduce artificial feed is periodic starvation. Starvation can reduce and increase feed efficiency while increasing production and fish can grow equally without fasting. The purpose of this study was to determine the growth and survival of periodically fasted tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Bedeng Munir Village, South Pagar Alam. The method used in fish farming consisted of two treatments, that is P0: control and P1: fasting treatment (fish were given commercial feed for 4 days and fasted for 1 day). The parameters observed were absolute length growth, absolute weight growth, total feed consumption, feed efficiency, survival, and water quality. The results showed that the P1 treatment produced the highest absolute weight growth of 16.5 g, the highest absolute length growth was 1.35 cm, the lowest amount of feed consumption was 1540 g, the highest feed efficiency was 204.94%, the survival rate was 89. %,. While water quality in both the treatment is still in the range of tolerance for tilapia as temperature 21.4 to 24.2 0C and pH 7.6 to 8.1.KeywordsGrowth, tilapia, starvation, survival.

EFFECTS OF STARVATION ON THE PROXIMATE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE JUVENILES BUNNYI BARBUS SHARPEYI

Juveniles bunnyi Barbus sharpeyi were subjected to starvation for a period of 11weeks, the proximate chemical analysis of body composition showed that the main effect of starvation was found on the depletion in lipid content, followed by gradual protein decreasing, coincided with an increase in both moisture and ash content. Muscle lipid was the more storage of reserve than that of viscera, that’s why the lost weight from muscles was more. This shows that energy utilized was derived from lipid catabolism in muscle more than viscera. Both condition factor (K) and viscera somatic index (VSI) tend to progressive decrease as starvation period proceded, and there was an inverse relationship between moisture and lipid content in whole specimen.

Huddling together to survive: Population density as a survival strategy of non-spore forming bacteria under nutrient starvation and desiccation at solid-air interfaces

Acclimation and flexible response mechanisms are survival adaptations allowing prokaryotic cells to colonize diverse habitats and maintain viability in nature. Lack of water significantly impacts cellular response, which can be partially compensated for through community interactions and accessing survival means beyond the cell’s boundaries. In the present study, higher numbers of cultivable Gram-positive Arthrobacter sp. and Gram-negative Pseudomonas stutzeri cells were found on surfaces when high population density was used after prolonged periods of desiccation and nutrient starvation. Total cell counts during desiccation periods decreased slower than culturable cell counts independently from initial population density. The presence of homogenate, prepared by filtering homogenized cultures through a 0.2 µm filter, extended culturability of Arthrobacter sp. cells, while intact heat-killed cells extended the culturability of Arthrobacter sp. and P. stutzeri. Our results suggest very slow cell membrane breakdown for desiccated bacterial cells at solid-air interfaces over extended time spans, which may serve as reservoirs of nutrients, and may potentially provide trace amounts of water for surviving cells. Higher initial population density and recycling of resources from “zombie”-like cells, may support growth in a similar fashion as access to cell lysates or the contents of heat-killed cells analogous to dead-phase cultures where some cells experience cryptic growth.

Lysosomal cystine mobilization shapes the response of TORC1 and tissue growth to fasting.

Adaptation to nutrient scarcity involves an orchestrated response of metabolic and signaling pathways to maintain homeostasis. We find that in the fat body of fasting Drosophila, lysosomal export of cystine coordinates remobilization of internal nutrient stores with reactivation of the growth regulator target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1). Mechanistically, cystine was reduced to cysteine and metabolized to acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) by promoting CoA metabolism. In turn, acetyl-CoA retained carbons from alternative amino acids in the form of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates and restricted the availability of building blocks required for growth. This process limited TORC1 reactivation to maintain autophagy and allowed animals to cope with starvation periods. We propose that cysteine metabolism mediates a communication between lysosomes and mitochondria, highlighting how changes in diet divert the fate of an amino acid into a growth suppressive program.

An integrated algal membrane photobioreactor as a green-transition technology for the carbon capture and utilization

The harvesting of microalgae strongly affects their effective application as a source of biomass for fuels and chemicals. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the performance of the recently developed Encapsulated Self-Forming Dynamic Membrane (ESFDM) module integrated into a cylindrical photobioreactor (PBR) for the efficient and simultaneous microalgae biomass cultivation and harvesting. The effect of different permeate fluxes was investigated (90–180 L m−2 h−1) obtaining excellent results in terms of harvesting rates (54.23–117.36 g m−2 h−1). Microalgal lipids content was determined under different nutrient regimes, including starvation periods for enhancing the content of lipids. A maximum volumetric biomass productivity of 257 mg L−1d−1 was achieved at a nitrogen content of 15.7 ± 10.6 mg L−1. On the other hand, the highest lipids productivity (42 mg L−1 d−1) was obtained during the starvation phase of nitrogen nutrients. The harvesting rate appeared to be strongly dependent on permeate flux, since the highest permeate flow corresponded in increase of the biomass harvested. The innovative SFDM enormously facilitates microalgae recovery. Indeed, the utilization of the SFDM has been demonstrated as an effective solution to increase the biomass harvesting rate while maintaining biomass concentration inside the photo-bioreactor below 1 g L−1 with a view at ensuring an efficient penetration of light into the membrane photobioreactor (mPBR) and consequently boosting the photosynthetic activity. The simultaneous implementation of the nitrogen starvation strategy can further increase the energy recovery potential from the biomass to address an algal biorefinery approach, besides reducing resources consumption.

Aggregation performance and adhesion behavior of microbes in response to feast/famine condition: Rapid granulation of aerobic granular sludge

Periodic starvation was a common strategy for the rapid start-up of aerobic granular sludge (AGS), and investigating the behavior of microbes that originated from inner or outer layer in response to feast/famine condition could provide more details for the development or stability of AGS. In this work, the microbes of the AGS were isolated by layers, the aggregation of microbes, the adhesion behavior of microbes, and viscoelasticity of the layer formed by microbes, at feast/famine conditions, were investigated for the in-depth understanding of the start-up and stability of AGS. The famine condition reduced the negative charge and deprotonated carboxyl groups of the surface thereby boosting the aggregation and adhesion of microbes. The feast condition was more beneficial for the stability of the layer as it caused a denser layer of microbes. The inner core microbes (IC) presented a higher aggregation rate than the outer layer microbes (OL) at feast/famine conditions. Also, the IC presented the highest aggregation rate, adhesion rate, and adhesion mass at famine conditions, which was most in favor of the start-up stage of the aerobic granulation. Since the denser layer was formed by IC, IC had better advantages over OL at the famine stage in the formation of a more stable layer. This study affirmed the role of microbes in the inner layer of the granule during the start-up phase and provided a theoretical basis for understanding the significance of the famine period for rapid granulation.

Early Starvation Contributes to the Adaptive Capacity of Corythucha marmorata (Uhler), an Emerging Pest in China.

Simple SummaryAccording to renowned Chinese medical saint Quan Wan, of the Ming Dynasty, “If you want to keep your child healthy, make him stay hungry occasionally”. In addition to lamenting the ancients’ theory of health preservation, we also frame this question in the context of insects of more distant origins. How did lace bugs adapt to starvation and low temperatures when they spread around the world? What influence do these abiotic stresses have? Driven by our desire to answer these questions, we designed a study in which nymphs newly born on different hosts were subjected to starvation treatment for differing periods. Origin food was then continuously provided until the end of their life. The total development time, survival, number of eggs, and supercooling capacity were recorded. Overall, our results provide an increased understanding of long-term post-starvation responses of insects to food limitations, particularly in determining survival.Food shortages severely reduce the prospects of insect survival in natural settings, including in the case of herbivorous insects. However, the early starvation experience of some insects has positive effects throughout their entire lifespan. It is important to discuss the effects of refeeding and host plants on the capacity of herbivorous insects to adapt to starvation and low temperatures, considering that starvation resistance is expected to show some degree of adaptive phenotypic plasticity. We tested the relationship between host plant, starvation, and the supercooling capacity of the invasive pest Corythucha marmorata. In particular, we highlighted how early starvation affects the refeeding and recovery phases. Among the various range of hosts, the chrysanthemum lace bug has the fastest growth rate on Helianthus annuus, and the strongest supercooling capacity on Symphyotrichum novi-belgii. Especially, starvation for 2 days increases the rates of survival, development, and number of eggs upon refeeding, in comparison to no starvation. A 3-day starvation period in the nymphal stage significantly increased the supercooling capacity of 5th instar nymphs and adults, as observed in our study.

Intra- and inter-population variation in sensitivity of migratory sockeye salmon smolts to phenological mismatch

Certain consumer traits may influence sensitivity to phenological mismatches between consumers and their prey, and understanding the variation in these traits across or within populations could be helpful in predicting if and how a consumer population will respond to climate change. Here, we quantify intra- and inter-population variation in traits of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) smolts that may influence sensitivity to starvation associated with phenological mismatch. We asked 2 questions: (1) What is the magnitude of intra- and inter-population variation in physical and energetic condition at different stages of emigration? (2) How would this trait influence survival during periods of starvation? We collected sockeye salmon smolts from 3 populations before and 8 populations after riverine migration within the Skeena River watershed, BC, and measured condition-specific traits such as size and energetic condition. We discovered among-population variation was lower after migration: before migration traits differed between populations, but after-migration traits were more similar across populations. We estimated starvation resistance, the number of days until predicted death, using a previously developed model. Mean starvation resistance varied between 18 and 33 d across populations and varied within each population to as low as 6 d. These results reveal substantial within- and across-population sensitivity to starvation which may be associated with phenological mismatch. Thus, factors other than phenology (e.g. freshwater ecosystem dynamics that influence smolt condition) have the potential to influence sensitivity to phenological mismatch and, potentially, marine survival.

Голод как оружие: краткосрочные и долгосрочные эффекты (на примере блокады Ленинграда)

In the end of August 1941, the Nazi leadership decided to besiege Leningrad to deliberately starve the city’s inhabitants. Since November, Leningrad was entering its period of mass starvation and death. In December 1941, according to incomplete records, starvation and dystrophy killed more than 50 000 people, in January and February of 1942 – almost 100 000 monthly. Relying on various archival materials, as well as on published sources and literature, the article analyzes impacts of lasting hunger on civilians during the longest siege of the World War Two. Also, it explores the long-term effects of starvation on health of siege survivors and their descendants. While various dimensions of hunger-related illnesses were studied during the siege of Leningrad, the scholarly attention to this topic has significantly decreased since early 1950s, although the consequences of prolonged starvation affected the health of blockade survivors throughout their lives and had an impact on the health of their descendants. Further study of this topic is suggested, to be conducted with the use of methods of biology/epigenetics.

A Simulation Study on Model-Based Optimization of Intracellular Trehalose Accumulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fed-Batch Cultures

Trehalose is a reserve carbohydrate, which occurs naturally in yeast and acts as a stress protectant for cells. Due to its features, trehalose is used in many industries (food, biopharmaceuticals, cosmetics). Its production/accumulation may be triggered and enhanced by the culture operating conditions, among which the feed flow rate and the start of the starvation period play the most important role. This paper presents a simulation study based on a novel model validated with experimental data, highlighting the interplay between trehalose maximization and biomass maximization. Several single-objective and multi-objective constrained optimization problems are solved using the control vector parameterization approach. It is shown that maximizing either the trehalose concentration or the biomass amount leads to solutions which are not appealing in practice. The best solution is obtained by maximizing trehalose concentration with a lower bound on the biomass amount. A comparison of the optimal solution to experimental data reveals that, although approximately the same amount of biomass can be obtained with different feeding profiles and starvation times, the maximization of trehalose concentration requires feeding most of the culture medium in the first part of the experiment while starting the nitrogen starvation at an early stage.

First report of the order Mysida (Crustacea) in Antarctic marine ice caves, with description of a new species of Pseudomma and investigations on the taxonomy, morphology and life habits of Mysidetes species.

SCUBA diving explorations of three islands off Dumont d’Urville Station at the coast of Adélie Land, East Antarctica, enabled the observation of marine ice caves. Sampling in this unusual habitat yielded a total of three species of Mysidae, altogether previously poorly known or unknown to science. Pseudommakryotroglodytumsp. nov. is described, based on the structure of the antennal scale, telson and on cornea-like lateral portions set off against the main body of eyeplates. Mysidetesilligi is re-established at species level after almost a century in synonymy. Re-descriptions are provided for M.illigi and M.hanseni, based on types and ice cave materials. Keys to the Southern Ocean species of Pseudomma and to the world-wide species of Mysidetes are given.Phylogenetic trees are provided for the genera Pseudomma and Mysidetes. 18S rDNA sequences of P.kryotroglodytum differ from GenBank sequences of other Pseudomma species. First sequence data are given for species of the genus Mysidetes: 18S differs between the two examined species and COI is quite diverse between and within species.We found previously unknown, probably sensorial structures in these ice cave species: in P.kryotroglodytum, the basal segment of the antennula shows a pit-like depression with striated pad on the bottom and a median cyst, connected with the bottom of the eyeplate cleft. M.illigi shows a female homologue of the appendix masculina bearing a field of modified setae. Subsequent investigations demonstrated these structures also in species from other habitats.The feeding apparatus and stomach contents of the three ice cave species point to brushing of small particles (detritus, microalgae) from available surfaces, such as sediment, rock and the ice surface. Differences in the feeding apparatus are very subtle between the two Mysidetes species. The high content of fat bodies in M.hanseni could help it to survive periods of starvation. The large storage volume of the foregut in P.kryotroglodytum points to the collection of food with low nutritional quality and could help to balance strongly fluctuating food availability.Summer specimens of M.hanseni showed a bimodal frequency of developmental stages in the marsupium and bimodal size-frequency distribution of free-living stages. The females with younger brood (embryos) were, on average, larger and carried more marsupial young than those with older brood (nauplioid larvae). All examined incubating and spent females showed (almost) empty foreguts and empty ovarian tubes, suggesting possible semelparity and death following the release of young. The absence of juveniles and immature females from summer samples suggests that growth and accumulation of fat and yolk occur outside ice caves, while such caves could be used by fattened adults as shelter for brooding. A provisional interpretation proposes a biannual life cycle for M.hanseni, superimposed with shifted breeding schedules, the latter characterised by early breeding and late breeding females, probably in response to harsh physical and trophic conditions along the continental coast of Antarctica.

Enhancing recovery performance of the toluene-removing biofilter after the short/long interference-shutdown period

In this study, the feasibility of three methods on enhancing the recovery performance of biofilter after the interference and starvation periods was evaluated. Results show that despite the pressure drop risk, supplementation of 7.5% (w/v) Polyethylene glycol-600 (PEG-600) resulted in quick recovery on removal efficiency in both short- and long-term interference shutdown experiments. Tinidazole Tablets (2 mg/L), a Bacteroidetes-specific antibiotic, are more suitable to apply as a one-time shot to improve recovery of biofilter as the second dose of Tinidazole Tablets was no longer effective presumably caused by the increased drug resistance. It is worth noting that the maximum elimination capacity of 134 g/(m3·h) was observed with Pseudomonas putida (P. putida) BRJC1032 addition. The biodegradation kinetic, biological characteristics and microbial community evolution in biofilters were systematically analyzed for finding the suitable methods to enhance recovery performance, which is of great value for the further industrial application of the biofilter technology.

Performance and recovery of nitrifying biofilm after exposure to prolonged starvation

Achieving consistent ammonia removal in post-lagoon processes faces two major challenges impacting nitrifiers due to the unique seasonal variation of lagoon-based systems: summer to winter temperature drop and summer to fall ammonia starvation period while lagoon is removing ammonia. The objective of this study was to follow microbial diversity and define conditions that could overcome these challenges in a post-lagoon moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) operated at an initial surface area loading rate (SALR) of 0.3 g-NH4-N m−2d−1 from mesophilic (20 °C) to psychrophilic (4 °C). Initially the temperature was maintained at 20 °C and decreased to 10 °C until steady state was achieved. During starvation conditions (i.e., continuous, intermittent and no aeration without inflow; decanted media; and intermittent and continuous ammonia supplement) the temperature was decreased by 2 °C per week until 4 °C. The results indicated that operational procedures, such as intermittent ammonia supplement with SALR of 0.15 g–NH4–N m−2d−1 could improve performance with 80% ammonia removal achieved immediately after starvation period. Intermittent ammonia supplement had produced the greatest biofilm preservation comparable to the initial load with the highest specific and surface area removal rates. In the recovery phase (initial load restoration) 10 days were required to reestablish performance above 95% ammonia removal. When temperature was decreased from mesophilic to psychrophilic, the microbial diversity was found higher when starving biofilm compared to the control operated at the initial load while it converged to a similar population over recovery. The main actors associated to nitrification enriched at psychrophilic conditions were Proteobacteria and Bacteriodotes at phyla level. Ammonia oxidation to nitrite was mainly driven by the order Burkholderiales and nitrite oxidation to nitrate by Pseudomonadales. This procedure should be considered in the implementation of full-scale post-lagoon MBBR technologies to ensure reliable, robust, and consistent performance despite the inherent seasonal variability of lagoon-based processes.

Effect of hatching time and starvation on morphometrics and biochemical composition of Octopus tetricus paralarvae

Rearing paralarvae of merobenthic octopus species from hatch to their benthic phase remains a difficult task, mainly due to unsuitable diets. Knowledge of their nutritional requirements is therefore crucial to providing appropriate diets. This study tracked changes in morphometrics and biochemical composition of Octopus tetricus paralarvae from the same brood that hatched at different times, and in starved paralarvae. Mean wet weight, dry weight, mantle length, arm length and protein content were highest in paralarvae that hatched at 0 days postfirst hatch, while the mean lipid content of paralarvae was not affected by hatching times. The mean wet weight of starving paralarvae continuously decreased, while the dry weight showed two distinctive declines between 0–1 dph and 3–5 dph. Both total length and mantle length were longest in paralarvae aged 0–1 dph compared to 4–5 dph under starving conditions. Paralarvae mean lipid content did not differ due to starving period but mean protein content decreased continuously. The most abundant fatty acids in paralarvae were DHA, EPA, palmitic acid and stearic acid across both experiments. The tendency of the protein content of developing and starved paralarvae to decline, while the overall lipid content remained largely unchanged, suggests that proteins were mainly catabolized, further indicating their importance for the formulation of artificial diets for octopus paralarvae.

A stratigraphic record from syn to post subduction sedimentation in Marlborough, New Zealand, and implications for Gondwana breakup

Sediments that accumulate within marine basins at convergent plate margins can provide important insights into the evolution and tectonic stability of the subduction wedge. Long-term sediment dispersal and stratigraphic patterns can also be influenced by geodynamic reconfigurations of the plate margin, such as changes in plate dip or velocity, or the subduction of anomalous oceanic crust. An understanding of tectonic context and complexity is therefore critical for any interpretation of convergent margin stratigraphy. Unfortunately, ongoing subduction and wedge deformation tends to obscure or destroy the stratigraphic record of such events as sediments become progressively incorporated into the wedge.The Awatere Valley in New Zealand's South Island contains well-preserved forearc stratigraphic record that accumulated within coastal-plain and marine basins during the final stages of East Gondwana subduction. We assign seven facies associations (FA) to characterise post-subduction units, showing that a transition from syn to post-subduction deposition is contained within largely marine strata from the New Zealand Urutawan to Ngaterian stages (c. 108 to 95 Ma). In contrast to previous accounts of deposition within nascent rift-basins, restored basin geometries are most consistent with those of terraced subduction wedges. We find no evidence that extension affected deposition prior to 95 Ma. Our results instead document a transition from highly deformed sedimentary wedge (pre 108 Ma) to largely undeformed sedimentary cover units (∼100 Ma) that is predominantly gradational.Up to 2 km of basin fill documents a relative sea-level (RSL) rise and fall between 108 and 95 Ma. A period of relative sediment starvation during the Urutawan (108–103 Ma) was abruptly terminated by synchronous mass-wasting, including the remobilisation of metre-scale blocks and rafts, that signals a dramatic increase in depositional energy relative to preceding patterns. Within the context of a large RSL fluctuation, diminishing compressional tectonism and forearc volcanism (from 98 Ma), this increase is anomalous and appears to signal a significant change in underlying subduction dynamics.

Effect of Temperature Fluctuation and Nutritional Status on Starry Flounder, Platichthys stellatus, Survival and Adaptive Physiological Response

Starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) is a commercially important cold-water fish. Our aim was to investigate the effects of fluctuating water temperature on flounders after periods of starvation and feeding. Fish were divided into starvation and feeding groups. The water temperature was increased stepwise in experiment 1; more focused variations, based on the results of experiment 1, were studied in experiment 2. At temperatures ≤27 °C, there was no significant difference observed in survival. At 28 °C, mortality increased, survival was lower (21%) in the starvation group than in the feeding group (46%), and weight loss was the highest (15%) in the starvation group. In experiment 2, survival was ≥86%, and there was no significant difference between the starvation/feeding groups. However, when the water temperature was increased to 27 °C after being decreased to 12 °C, weight loss was the highest (11%). Glucose, cortisol, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) levels increased with increasing water temperature, and then gradually decreased. Glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT)/glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) levels showed large variations among individuals. Triglyceride, cholesterol, and protein levels gradually decreased with long-term starvation. Survival was not affected by water temperature drop ≤27 °C after starvation/feeding. These results indicate that 27 °C is the upper limit of tolerable water temperature for the survival of starry flounders. Therefore, aquaculture farms should ensure maintaining water temperatures at ≤27 °C during high-temperature periods.

Refeeding syndrome in patients with anorexia nervosa - case reports

Abstract Introduction: Refeeding syndrome RS is a life-threatening acute hormonal and metabolic disorder that occurs in patients with moderate or severe malnutrition as a result of improperly administered nutritional therapy. Material and method: The aim of this study is to describe the cases of two female patients suffering from anorexia nervosa, who developed a refeeding syndrome after starting nutritional therapy. Additionally, the available literature was reviewed in order to characterize the issue, including negative consequences and prevention of the refeeding syndrome. Results: In both cases, the development of the refeeding syndrome was found in the patients, resulting from the excessive supply of energy and nutritional substrates in a short time, preceded by a previous, months long period of starvation and exhaustion of the organism (both patients had a decrease in the body mass index - BMI - to the value of about 14 kg / m2). In patient 1, the symptoms concerned mainly the cardiovascular system: a significant increase in the concentration of N-terminal B-type natriuretic propeptide (NT-proBNP) and tachycardia, as well as a decrease in the concentration of inorganic phosphates and hypokalemia. On the other hand, in the case of patient 2, symptoms such as confusion or deep disturbances of consciousness, which led to hospitalization in the intensive care unit, dominated the clinical picture. Conclusions: Refeeding syndrome may develop during nutritional rehabilitation, especially in the case of a sudden, inadequately planned supply of nutrients. Particular care should be taken in patients with extremely low BMI when reintroducing nutrition. The presented case reports draw attention to the possibility of cardiological complications and mental disorders of the realimentation syndrome, and indicate the behavior of patients (eating excessive food) that may lead to the development of the refeeding syndrome.

The Effect of Dietary Addition of a Synbiotic After Long-Term Starvation on Certain Biochemical Parameters and Liver Structure in Common Carp (Cyprinus Carpio L.)

Abstract The prolonged starvation has many effects on the physiological and morphological processes in fish and interferes them with the ability to absorb nutrients and caloric intake. The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of long-term starvation and posterior dietary administration of commercial synbiotic consisting fructoligosaccharide (FOS) which used in combination with Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Lactococcus spp. for evaluation on some blood biochemical parameters and histological characteristics of common carp liver. Experimental fish after 5 months starvation period were subjected to the following feeding protocols: continuous starvation until 60 day (ST), re-feeding (FS) with dry composed diet (Aqua 1032 Swim) and refeeding with composed diet and synbiotic (FSS) for the following 60 days. Blood samples were used for analysis of the following plasma parameters: total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, AST, ALT, glucose and serum for thyroid hormones. Histology analyses were performed on the carp liver samples. During the experimental period, fasting and refeeding were influenced significant on studied biochemical parameters, except glucose and urea. Also, the statistically largest (P <0.001) difference was observed in albumin and cholesterol values after refeeding. Our results reveal the changes in values of biochemical parameters during long-term starvation and refeeding with synbiotic and indicate signs of structural alterations of the liver in common carp.

Effects of starvation and refeeding on growth, biochemical composition, enzyme activities and intestine structure of lined seahorses, Hippocampus erectus

A study was conducted to investigate effects of starvation and refeeding on growth, physiology and intestine structure of Hippocampus erectus. This study was divided into 2 periods within one month: a starvation period in which seahorses were subjected to the following 4 starved stage: 0 days (S0), 5 days (S5), 10 days (S10), 15 days (S15) and a refeeding period: S5F25 (25 days of refeeding after 5 days of starvation), S10F20 (20 days of refeeding after 10 days of starvation), S15F15 (15 days of refeeding after 15 days of starvation). Total protein content decreased significantly during starvation while S5F25, F10F20 existed no significant difference with continuedly feeding group. Intestine lipase of S5 increased significantly while intestinal lipase of S15 markedly decreased. Intestine protease activity and hepatic digestive enzyme significantly decreased after starvation, but digestive enzyme of S5F25, S10F20 had no significant difference with continuedly feeding group. Hepatic SOD and CAT activities reached highest at S5 and S10, respectively. MDA level of S5, S10 and S15 was significantly higher than that of continuedly feeding group. SOD, CAT, MDA level of S5F25 and S10F20 had no significant difference with continuedly feeding group. Starved seahorse showed decreased height of mucosal fold and microvilli, enlarged gap between mucosal layer and submucosal layer, reduced number of organelles and swollen mitochondria in intestinal epithelial cells but recovered to some extent after refeeding. This study explored starvation physiology knowledge of seahorse which provided scientific significance for seahorse aquaculture.