Effects of dietary taurine level on visual function in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Abstract

Dietary insufficiencies have been well documented to decrease growth rates and survival (and therefore overall production) in fish aquaculture. By contrast, the effects of dietary insufficiencies on the sensory biology of cultured fish remains largely unstudied. Diets based solely on plant protein sources could have advantages over fish-based diets because of the cost and ecological effects of the latter, but plant proteins lack the amino acid taurine. Adequate levels of taurine are, however, necessary for the development of a fully functional visual system in mammals. As part of ongoing studies to determine the suitability of plant-based diets, we investigated the effects of normal and reduced taurine dietary levels on retinal anatomy and function in European sea bass ( Dicentrarchus labrax ). We could not demonstrate any effects of dietary taurine level on retinal anatomy, nor the functional properties of luminous sensitivity and temporal resolution (measured as flicker fusion frequency). We did, however, find an effect on spectral sensitivity. The peak of spectral sensitivity of individuals fed a 5% taurine diet was rightward shifted (i.e., towards longer wavelengths) relative to that of fish fed a 0% or 1.5% taurine diet. This difference in in spectral sensitivity was due to a relatively lower level of middle wavelength pigment (maximum absorbance .500 nm) in fish fed a 5% taurine diet. Changes in spectral sensitivity resulting from diets containing different taurine levels are unlikely to be detrimental to fish destined for market, but could be in fishes that are being reared for stock enhancement programs.

Review: Use of Electrophysiological Techniques to Study Visual Functions of Aquatic Organisms

“…Compared with a group of bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed with 0% or 1.5% taurine, the peak of spectral sensitivity of D. labrax fed with 5% taurine gradually shifted to longer wavelengths. The light intensity required to reach 75% of the ERG amplitude peak differed significantly among fish fed with feed containing different amounts of taurine (Brill et al, 2019).…”

Performa Benih Udang Windu yang Diberi Artemia Diperkaya Taurin

“…Beberapa studi telah menunjukkan bahwa pemberian rotifer atau Artemia yang diperkaya dengan taurin dapat meningkatkan pertumbuhan, perkembangan dan metamorfosis larva ikan laut (Pinto et al, 2010;Salze et al, 2011;2012;Rotman et al, 2017;Matsunari et al, 2013;Hawkyard et al, 2014;Katagiri et al, 2017;Partridge & Woolley, 2017;Kim et al, 2016;Ridwanet al, 2017;Betancor et al, 2019;Dehghani et al, 2020;Brill et al, 2019;Gaon et al, 2021) dan sintasan serta perkembangan stadia larva dan juvenil udang vaname Litopenaeus vannamei (Jusadi et al, 2015;To et al, 2021).…”

Physiological role of genes involved in taurine biosynthesis in fishes and in silico approach to determine transcription factors in their promoters’ zone

“…Furthermore, in mammals, the physiological role of taurine has been extensively investigated (Huxtable & Sebring 1986, Pion et al 1987, Huxtable 1992, Militante et al 2000, Parsons et al 2001, Goodman et al 2009, Ueki et al 2012, Han et al 2015 while in fishes different studies have demonstrated its relevance in the physiology of marine and freshwater fishes (El-Sayed 2014, Salze & Davis 2015, Mezzomo et al 2018, Zhang et al 2019, Sampath et al 2020. As in mammals, different physiological roles of taurine have been observed in fishes that are involved in respiration, circulation, digestion, osmoregulation, sensorial system, muscular system, central nervous system (CNS), and reproduction (Higuchi et al 2012, Mezzomo et al 2018, Brill et al 2019, Ceccotti et al 2019, Salze et al 2019. Most species can acquire taurine through food absorption in the intestine or endogenous synthesis from its precursor's methionine/cysteine (Kuzmina et al 2010).…”

“…Consequently, this study demonstrates that using transcriptomics might be a better approach to understanding taurine roles. Another example of the role of taurine in the sensory system has been the work realized by Brill et al (2019) in seabass Dicentrarchus labrax also fed protein diets. Although no effect on retinal anatomy or functional properties of luminous sensitivity were found in this work, authors found that the spectral sensitivity peak of individuals fed a 5% taurine diet was rightward shifted (i.e.…”