Growth performance, physiological parameters, and transcript levels of lipid metabolism-related genes in hybrid yellow catfish (Tachysurus fulvidraco ♀ × Pseudobagrus vachellii ♂) fed diets containing Siberian ginseng

Abstract

In high-density aquaculture, fish health can suffer because of excessive feeding, which causes fatty liver disease. Siberian ginseng (Acanthopanax senticosus) has been used as a feed additive to promote animal growth, immunity, and lipid metabolism. In this study, we explored the effects of A. senticosus on the physiology of hybrid yellow catfish (Tachysurus fulvidraco ♀ × Pseudobagrus vachellii ♂). A control group and five groups fed diets containing A. senticosus (0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 g A. senticosus/kg feed) were established and maintained for 8 weeks. Dietary supplementation with A. senticosus at 4 g/kg promoted growth of the hybrid yellow catfish. Serum total cholesterol (TC) and triacylglycerol (TG) levels at 2 g/kg A. senticosus (TC: 1.31 mmol/L; TG: 1.08 mmol/L) were significantly lower than in the control group (TC: 1.51 mmol/L; TG: 1.41 mmol/L), and 4 g/kg A. senticosus (17.20 μmol/g tissue) reduced the liver TG level compared with the control group (21.36 μmol/g tissue) (P <0.05). Comparative transcriptomic analysis of liver tissue between the control group and the group showing optimum growth (4 g/kg A. senticosus) revealed 820 differentially expressed genes and 44 significantly enriched pathways, especially lipid metabolism pathways such as unsaturated fatty acid and fatty acid metabolism. The transcript levels of five lipid metabolism-related genes were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that 2–4 g/kg A. senticosus supplementation reduced the FADS2, ELOVL2, CYP24a, and PLPP3 transcript levels and 4 g/kg A. senticosus increased the DIO2 transcript level (P <0.05), leading to altered synthesis of TG and thyroxine and reduced fat deposition in the liver. Our results show that dietary A. senticosus affects the regulation of fat metabolism and promotes the growth of hybrid yellow catfish. A. senticosus is a healthy feed additive, and the appropriate dietary supplementation rate is 2–4 g/kg.

Profiling Genetic Breeding Progress in Bagrid Catfishes

“…Additionally, the effects of dietary Leucine, threonine, and tryptophan were investigated on various growth performance parameters, including muscle growth and protein synthesis and degradation-related signaling pathways, in hybrid Bagrid catfish (P. vachelli ♀× L. longirostris ♂) [122,123]. Li et al [124] explored the growth performance, physiological parameters, and transcript levels of lipid metabolism-related genes in hybrid yellow catfish (P. fulvidraco ♀, P. vachelli ♂) when fed diets containing Siberian ginseng. The results indicated that an appropriate dietary supplementation rate of 2-4 g/kg of Siberian ginseng can influence the regulation of fat metabolism and promote the growth of hybrids [124].…”

“…Li et al [124] explored the growth performance, physiological parameters, and transcript levels of lipid metabolism-related genes in hybrid yellow catfish (P. fulvidraco ♀, P. vachelli ♂) when fed diets containing Siberian ginseng. The results indicated that an appropriate dietary supplementation rate of 2-4 g/kg of Siberian ginseng can influence the regulation of fat metabolism and promote the growth of hybrids [124]. In terms of the mechanism of fatty liver disease, Qiang et al [125] found that the group with a high dietary lipid level (17.08%) exhibited fatty liver symptoms, such as lower growth, higher hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol contents, and larger lipid droplets in liver tissue, compared to a normal-fat diet group (8.87% dietary lipid level).…”

Assembly-free rapid differential gene expression analysis in non-model organisms using DNA-protein alignment

“…On the other hand, driven by declining costs, RNA-seq is becoming increasingly accessible to labs with modest resources; and as a result, it is being employed on an ever-expanding catalog of non-model organisms, pervading the fields of agriculture, aquaculture, ecology, and environment. A very short list of recent studies include: environmental stress response in sea-trout [ 3 ], coral [ 4 ], ryegrass [ 5 ], pigeonpea [ 6 ], tiger barb [ 7 ]; immune response to parasites and pathogens in guppy [ 8 ], eel [ 9 ], silkworm [ 10 ], peanut [ 11 ], sunflower [ 12 ]; mechanisms of phenotypic divergence in hares [ 13 ], bats [ 14 ], grass carps [ 15 ]; effect of diet in the growth and development in shrimp [ 16 ], yellow perch [ 17 ], mandarin fish [ 18 ], grenadier anchovy [ 19 ], catfish [ 20 ], tilapia [ 21 ], bass [ 22 ]. It is only likely that RNA-seq will continue to rapidly proliferate while high-quality reference databases grow at a slow pace.…”

Assembly-free rapid differential gene expression analysis in non-model organisms using DNA-protein alignment

“…On the other hand, driven by declining costs, RNA-seq is becoming increasingly accessible to labs with modest resources; and as a result, it is being employed on an everexpanding catalog of non-model organisms, pervading the fields of agriculture, aquaculture, ecology, and environment. A very short list of recent studies include: environmental stress response in sea-trout [3], coral [4], ryegrass [5], pigeonpea [6], tiger barb [7]; immune response to parasites and pathogens in guppy [8], eel [9], silkworm [10], peanut [11], sunflower [12]; mechanisms of phenotypic divergence in hares [13], bats [14], grass carps [15]; effect of diet in the growth and development in shrimp [16], yellow perch [17], mandarin fish [18], grenadier anchovy [19], catfish [20], tilapia [21], bass [22]. It is only likely that RNA-seq will continue to rapidly proliferate while high-quality reference databases grow at a slow pace.…”