The experiment was conducted to determine the most effective antioxidant (among the vitamin E (VE), vitamin C (VC), vitamin A (VA), astaxanthine (AX), β-carotene (βC)) on the ovarian egg number and size, level of VE, VC, VA, AX, βC and oxidative stress (as malondialdehyde (MDA)) in the hepatopancreas, ovarian, gills and muscle tissue during ovarian development of Astacus leptodactylus. One control (C) and five experimental diets (EE, EC, EA, EAX and EβC) were prepared. The EE, EC, EA, EAX and EβC groups were formed by added 150 mg kg -1 VE, 200 mg kg -1 VC, 240 mg kg -1 VA, 200 mg kg -1 AX and 200 mg kg -1 βC to diet C, respectively. At the end of the experiment found that the dietary antioxidants increased ovarian egg number and size and reduced the level of MDA in the tissues. Ovarian egg number and size were highest in the EE and EAX diet groups in the comparison to control (p<0.001). The level of MDA in the tissues was lowest in the EAX diet group in the comparison to control (p<0.001). The highest levels of VE, VC, VA, AX and βC were found in the hepatopancreas and ovarian compared with muscle and gills. The highest level of MDA also was determined in the ovarian according to other tissues. In conclusion, the VE and AX in broodstock diets were the most effective antioxidants on the ovarian egg number and size of A. leptodactylus.

This study investigated the effect of starvation (78 days) and refeeding (33 days) on the oxidative stress [malondialdehyde (MDA)] and the non‐enzymatic antioxidants [vitamin E (VE), vitamin C (VC), vitamin A (VA), beta carotene (βC) and reduced glutathione (GSH)] in the hepatopancreas, muscle and gill tissues of freshwater crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus). Crayfish were divided into three experimental groups: control (fed), starved (not fed) crayfish for 78 days and refeeding crayfish for 33 days after 78 days of starvation. The biochemical analysis of the tissues was conducted at 3, 18, 33, 48, 63 and 78 days of starvation and feeding and at 3, 18 and 33 days of refeeding. It was determined that crayfish can withstand starvation period of 78 days. In all of the periods, the MDA levels were significantly higher in the tissues of starved crayfish when compared with the control. The findings of this study demonstrate that starvation has a negative effect on the VE, VC, VA, βC and GSH levels in the crayfish. The measured parameters returned to control values after 33 days of the refeeding. Additionally, the starvation resulted in decreased levels of VE, VA and βC in the abdomen muscle of crayfish consumed by humans.

In this study, we examined the effects of dietary antioxidant vitamins [vitamin E (Vit E), vitamin C (Vit C) and vitamin A (Vit A)], astaxanthin (AX) and β‐carotene (βC) supplementation on oxidative stress [malondialdehyde (MDA)], antioxidant enzyme activities [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px)] and glutathione (GSH) levels in hepatopancreas, ovarian, muscle, gill tissues and survival rates (SR), live weight gain (LWG), specific growth rate (SGR) of Astacus leptodactylus during ovarian development. The EE, EC, EA, EAX and EβC groups were formed by addingClick here to enter text. Vit E, Vit C, Vit A, AX and βC to the diet respectively. The antioxidants did not have a significant impact on the values of SR, LWG and SGR. After 137 days, the MDA levels in the Control (C) group were statistically higher in the hepatopancreas, ovarian and muscle tissues according negative control (NC), EE, EC, EA, EAX and EβC groups. The SOD activities in ovarian, muscle and gill tissues and GSH levels in ovarian and muscle tissues were lower in the C group compared with the NC group, but GSH‐Px activities in hepatopancreas and ovarian tissues and GSH levels in gill tissues were higher. The MDA levels were statistically lower in all tissues of crayfish in experimental groups according to C group. The antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH levels changed according to tissue. The results showed that Vit E and AX should be supplemented in diets to increase the reproductive performance of crayfish, because Vit E and AX were of higher potential as antioxidants than other vitamins and carotenoids in ovarian tissues.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of starvation (78 days) and refeeding (33 days) on oxidative stress (malondialdehyde (MDA)),  antioxidants (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)), arginase (AR) and nitric oxide (NO) in the hepatopancreas, muscle and gills tissues of freshwater crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus). Crayfish were maintained at three experimental groups: control (fed), starved (not fed) crayfish for 78 days and refeeding crayfish for 33 days after 78 days starvation. The biochemical analysis in the tissues were measured at 3, 18, 33, 48, 63 and 78 days of starvation and feeding and at 3, 18 and 33 days of refeeding. In the all periods, the MDA levels were significantly higher in tissues of starved crayfish than the control ones. Significant changes in the MDA levels were also observed amongst starvation times. In the tissues of starved crayfish was significantly higher SOD, CAT, GR and AR activities when compared to control crayfish. The GSH-Px and NO activity showed increases and decreases in different starvation periods according to control group. The parameters measured returned to control values after 33 days of the refeeding. Collectively, the present study indicated that starvation induces MDA, SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, GR, AR and NO activity in the tissues, and A. leptodactylus exposed to starvation can be withstand 78 days.