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To explore the effects of dietary threonine on growth and ovarian development of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), crayfish (5.48 ± 0.19 g) were fed six isoproteic and isoenergetic diets with varying levels of threonine (7.16 g/kg (control), 9.19, 12.74, 16.44, 20.83, and 23.78 g/kg) for 8 weeks. The results showed that weight gain rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency rate, protein deposition rate, and essential amino acid deposition rates obtained the optimal values when the dietary threonine level was 12.74 or 16.44 g/kg. Compared to the control group, the 12.74 g/kg group exhibited enhanced nonspecific immunity and antioxidant properties. The 16.44 g/kg group demonstrated a significant increase in the frequency of B cells and R cells in the hepatopancreas, the length and width of intestinal villi, and the activities of protease and lipase. It also showed elevated ecdysterone hormone, gonadal index (GI), cAMP content, and the relative abundance of beneficial intestinal microflora. Compared to the control group, the mRNA expression of mTOR, S6K1, 4EBP1, EcR, RXR, chitinase, PKA, Vg, cdc2, and cyclin B was significantly upregulated, and the mRNA expression of MIH was significantly downregulated in the 16.44 g/kg group. Overall, optimal dietary threonine could improve intestinal health, regulate immune function, and enhance protein utilization, molting, and growth performance of red swamp crayfish. Additionally, it improved the synthesis of yolk substance and facilitated the development of ovarian cells of female crayfish. The optimal threonine level was 14.87–16.94 g/kg (dry matter), corresponding to 42.51–48.42 g/kg of dietary protein in red swamp crayfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trial was conducted to investigate the effects of the replacement of dietary fishmeal (FM) by the blend of Tenebrio molitor meal (TMM), Chlorella meal (CM), Clostridium autoethanogenum protein (CAP), cottonseed protein concentrate (CPC) on growth, protein utilization and intestinal health of gibel carp (Carassius gibelio, CAS Ⅴ). The FM-based diet was used as the control, and the blended proteins (TMM: CM: CAP: CPC) at ratios of 1 : 1:8 : 2 (BLEND A), 1 : 1:6 : 4 (BLEND B), and 1 : 1:4 : 6 (BLEND C) were used to replace FM at three levels (33%, 67%, 100%), respectively. The results showed that, compared to the control group, growth performance increased significantly when dietary FM was fully replaced by BLEND B (P < 0.05), while decreased by BLEND A (P < 0.05). The complete substitution of FM with BLEND B significantly upregulated the mRNA expression of intestinal proinflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and tight junction-related genes (P < 0.05), improving intestinal tissue morphology and health. And it also significantly increased intestinal trypsin activity (P < 0.05), upregulated the mRNA expression of amino acid sensory receptor-related and amino acid or peptide transport-related genes (P < 0.05), increased protein apparent digestibility coefficient (P < 0.05). The 100% substitution of FM with BLEND A significantly upregulated the mRNA expression of intestinal proinflammatory cytokines and downregulated the mRNA expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine il-10 (P < 0.05), reduced intestinal villus height (P < 0.05), and decreased protein apparent digestibility coefficient (P < 0.05). In conclusion, BLEND B could completely substitute dietary FM and was beneficial to the growth and health of gibel carp. Dietary digestible essential amino acids index (DEEAI) was found as an important indicator and should be higher than 79.5% to meet the maximum growth of fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8‐week feeding experiment was performed to evaluate the effects of dietary arachidonic acid (ARA) on the reproductive performance, tissue fatty acid profile and sex hormone secretion in female Pelteobagrus fulvidraco during the breeding season. Three diets with different ARA levels (0.64%, 4.67% and 10.07% of total fatty acids) were formulated, a control diet (C) and two diets with low ARA (ARA‐L) or high ARA (ARA‐H). The results showed that the highest gonadosomatic index (GSI) and condition factor (CF) were observed in the ARA‐H group. The diets with supplementation of ARA resulted in a significantly higher fertilization rate, more normal larvae and greater survival rate of 7 days posthatching (7DPH) larvae. The ARA contents in liver and 3DPH larvae were improved with increasing dietary ARA concentrations. The lowest EPA/ARA ratios were observed in liver and eggs of fish fed with the ARA‐L diet. Significantly reduced serum estradiol (E2), 11‐keto‐testosterone (11‐KT) and testosterone (T) levels were found in the ARA‐L group females compared with the other treatments. The combined results indicated that a higher dietary ARA level and ARA/EPA ratio mainly influence spawning performance and egg quality of yellow catfish and that ARA regulates sex steroid hormone synthesis in broodstock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacement of dietary fishmeal with cottonseed meal (CSM) on the growth performance and health status of juvenile grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus (6.67 g). Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated with different CSM levels (0, 121, 241, 362, 482 and 603 g/kg diet). The first limiting amino acid was methionine, which decreased with an increase in dietary CSM from 361 to 538 g/kg. When the dietary CSM content was lower than 241 g/kg, the limiting amino acid was histidine. Thermal growth coefficient (TGC) and feed efficiency first increased and then decreased (p < 0.05), which was consistent with the change in the limiting amino acid. The feeding rate increased with a rise in the dietary CSM level (p < 0.05). The activity of digestive enzymes except trypsin decreased significantly (p < 0.05), serum aminotransferase activity and triglycerides increased, serum cholesterol decreased (p < 0.05). When dietary CSM was raised to 362 g/kg, intestinal villi and hepatopancreas tissue were injured. When the dietary CSM was 603 g/kg, alternative complement pathway haemolytic activity was inhibited (p < 0.05). The gossypol level in dorsal muscles from each treatment was below the detection limit. Based on the quadratic regression analysis of the TGC, the optimal dietary CSM level was 175.9 g/kg, and the maximum could be up to 351.8 g/kg and still result in the same TGC as that of control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]