Ontogeny of the digestive enzyme activity of the Amazonian pimelodid catfish Pseudoplatystoma punctifer (Castelnau, 1855)

Abstract

Highlights ► The ontogeny of the digestive enzymes activity was studied in Pseudoplatystoma punctifer, a tropical catfish species with high aquaculture potential in Amazonia. ► P. punctifer showed a fast digestive system development with an enzymatic profile typical of a tropical and carnivorous species. ► Results revealed that the digestive system of P. punctifer was fully functional at 12 days post fertilization, indicating that this species could be weaned from that day onwards. ► Results contribute to the elaboration of a feeding protocol adapted to the changing digestive capacities of developing fish. ► An adequate feeding protocol is needed to reduce the incidence of cannibalism at this stage of development, which is currently the main bottleneck for fingerling mass production.

Development of digestive enzymatic activity and gene expression during the early ontogeny of Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi)

“…Thereafter, specific lipase activity dramatically increased at 15 dph, but then sharply decreased until end of the study. Similar pattern has been documented in Lates calcarifer [3] , Clarias magur [8] , Odontesthes bonariensis [25] , Pseudoplatystoma punctifer [44] , Mystus nemurus [45] . The total lipase activity was also detected at hatching at near zero and remained the low levels until 10 dph.…”

The Digestive Function of Pseudoplatystoma punctifer Early Juveniles Is Differentially Modulated by Dietary Protein, Lipid and Carbohydrate Content and Their Ratios

“…The feeding protocol used in this study was adapted to the digestive capacities of developing P. punctifer . Thus, individuals were weaned at 13 dpf from live prey ( Artemia nauplii) to the different experimental compound diets when the morphological and functional development of the digestive system was achieved [ 23 , 24 ], moment that we consider, from a digestive physiology point of view, the beginning of the juvenile stage in this species.…”

“…The activity of the pancreatic and intestinal enzymes are useful and reliable markers for assessing the development and state of the digestive function in fish [ 80 ]. As in many other fish, the specific activity of AP increases concomitantly with the decrease in the activity of LAP during the larval development of P. punctifer [ 24 ]. In this study, the ratio AP/LAP at 26 dpf measured in the four dietary groups indicated a lower degree of maturation of the intestine in the 30:10 and 30:15 groups, whereas the most mature intestine corresponded to individuals from the 45:15 group.…”

“…Enzyme activity was measured at 12, 20, and 26 dpf according to Castro-Ruiz et al [ 24 ]. In brief, alkaline phosphatase (AP, E.C.…”

“…However, a high incidence of cannibalism and a low acceptability of compound diets at weaning have been responsible for low survival during early life stages [ 22 , 23 ], hence limiting the success of its commercial farming. Recent studies on the morphological and functional ontogeny of the digestive system of P. punctifer [ 23 , 24 ] have shown that the transition from the larval to the juvenile stage from a digestive physiology point of view (transition from alkaline to acid digestion) occurs at around 10–12 days post fertilization (dpf; 12.02 ± 0.18 mm TL) at 28 °C, allowing to successfully wean individuals 1 weak earlier in comparison to previous rearing protocols [ 25 ]. In Darias et al [ 25 ], we studied the nutritional needs of P. punctifer during the early juvenile stage (from 13 to 26 dpf) using four compound diets containing different protein:lipid (P:L) levels (30:15, 30:10, 45:15, or 45:10, in %).…”