Dietary taurine supplementation enhances metamorphosis and growth potential of Solea senegalensis larvae

Abstract

The effect of dietary taurine supplementation on growth performance, metamorphosis success and amino acid metabolism of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) larvae was investigated. These parameters were assessed in larvae fed control and taurine supplemented microcapsules during the pelagic phase. Subsequently, a similar evaluation was carried out in newly-settled larvae fed upon Artemia, in order to verify the effect of earlier dietary taurine supplementation in larvae reared under improved feeding conditions. Results showed that dietary taurine supplementation did not affect larval growth performance and metamorphosis during the pelagic phase. However, by the end of the trial, Senegalese sole previously fed taurine supplemented microcapsules had a significantly higher growth performance and metamorphosis completion success than larvae fed control microcapsules. These differences were likely related to the improvement of feeding conditions upon settlement, which probably helped revealing the positive effects of earlier dietary taurine supplementation on Senegalese sole performance. Additionally, Senegalese sole may have benefited from taurine antioxidant properties during metamorphosis, since larval antioxidant defences may saturate at this stage. Furthermore, results from metabolic trials have shown that dietary taurine supplementation significantly increased amino acid retention in Senegalese sole larvae when a concomitant increase of taurine body levels was found. Therefore, an increase in larval growth potential and metamorphosis success was observed under dietary taurine supplementation and these results may help understanding why dietary taurine supplementation has been reported to simultaneously increase taurine body levels and growth performance in other fish species, leading to a better comprehension on the role of taurine during fish development.

Investigation of biomarkers of early taurine deficiency in Florida pompano Trachinotus carolinus

“…Many studies have described the involvement of taurine in the regulation of cellular calcium homeostasis in neurons (El Idrissi and Trenkner, 2003;El Idrissi, 2008) and its importance in regulating myofibrillar contraction and apoptosis (Schaffer et al, 2000;Warskulat et al, 2007). Such deregulation can lead to impaired function and cause a general decrease in organ size (Ito et al, 2008), which is in accordance with the growth reduction seen in taurine-deficient fish (Brotons Martinez et al, 2004;Lunger et al, 2007;Matsunari et al, 2008a;Park et al, 2002;Pinto et al, 2010;Salze et al, 2011).…”

Taurine: a critical nutrient for future fish feeds

“…10 2004; Kim et al, 2005a;Kim et al, 2005b;Lunger et al, 2007;Matsunari et al, 2005;Pinto et al, 2010;Rossi Jr and Davis, 2012;Salze et al, 2011;Salze et al, 2012;Takagi et al, 2008), as well as in shrimps (Shiau and Chou, 1994). Because fishmeal is a significant source of essential minerals, it was hypothesized that growth reduction in low-fishmeal diets were due to a low mineral bioavailability, and that taurine acted as an organic acid, improving the bioavailability of minerals (Baruah et al, 2007;Khajepour and Hosseini, 2012;Vielma et al, 1999).…”

“…Pepsin activity also was higher in taurine-supplemented larvae, although the time of onset of pepsin activity was not altered by dietary treatment. Benefits to morphological development and metamorphosis have also been attributed to dietary taurine in R. canadum and S. senegalensis (Pinto et al, 2010;Salze et al, 2011). As it is for the other observed effects of taurine, the mechanisms underlying these effects on larval growth, survival and development remain obscure.…”

A holistic approach to development of diets for Ballan wrasse (Labrus berggylta) – a new species in aquaculture

“…Taurine is a non protein amino acid which, among others, is involved in osmoregulation and bile salt production. It is essential for cats and has been shown to be essential in the early stages of some marine fish species (Sturman, 1993; Chen et al, 2005; Chen et al, 2004; Pinto et al, 2010). The level of taurine was lower both in juveniles and in broodstock fish fed the Vitalis + shrimp diet compared to wild fish and fish fed the Labrus diet.…”