Organs development, gene expression and health of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.) fed genetically modified soybeans compared to the near-isogenic non-modified parental line

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted to study the possible effects of genetically modified (GM), full-fat soybean meal (FFSBM) from Round-up Ready Ò soybeans compared to its parental, and closest near-isogenic, non-modified (nGM) soybean variety, added at moderate (150 g kg )1 ) and high (300 g kg )1 ) inclusion levels. The fish showed a high specific growth rate (SGR 1.27-1.52), and nearly doubled their body weight (BW), with final weights varying from 1009 to 1110 g. Increased levels of dietary FFSBM, independent of the soy being GM or not, significantly decreased mean values of SGR, thermal growth rate, condition factor, final BW, liver somatic index, lipid efficiency ratio, apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of protein and gross energy, liver lipid content and plasma cholesterol, and significantly increased ADC of starch and muscle fatty acid levels of 18:3n-3, 20:4n-6, 20:5n-3 and total n-3. Increasing dietary GM FFSBM significantly increased feed conversion ratio, and significantly decreased protein efficiency ratio, ADC of lipid and dry matter and plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) levels. Spleen somatic index was significantly larger in fish groups fed GM FFSBM compared to groups fed nGM FFSBM, which might indicate a possible immune response exerted by the GM soybeans. Mean normalized expression of heat shock protein 70 mRNA in distal intestine was significantly up-regulated while normalized expression of catalase in liver was down-regulated, in fish fed FFSBM compared to fish fed FM. In conclusion, substituting moderate to high levels of GM Round-up Ready Ò FFSBM in diets for Atlantic salmon and compared to the closest nearisogenic counterpart available, resulted in many effects independent of the soy being GM or not, but with the notable exceptions of enlarged spleen and lowered plasma TAG. KEY WORDS

Rainbow Trout Rearing Performance, Intestinal Morphology, and Immune Response after Long‐term Feeding of High Levels of Fermented Soybean Meal

“…The immunology results support those of Sagstad et al (2008) and likely indicate a lack of adverse health effects from the inclusion of fermented soybean meal in Rainbow Trout diets. Although PSG contains possible probiotic microbes (Gatesoupe 1999), the innate immune response in the fish fed PSG showed no major responses.…”

Energy dilution with α-cellulose in diets for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) juveniles — Effects on growth, feed intake, liver size and digestibility of nutrients

“…However, the increase in LER was minor. In salmon it is found that PER correlated positively with LER (Sagstad et al, 2008), in agreement with the present study. Which of the two factors, LPV or LER, give the more accurate answer depends on several factors; LPV depends on more steps in analytical procedures and is calculated from the fat amount in the biomass increase, while LER is calculated from the total biomass increase, also discussed by Lie et al (1988).…”

Bt-maize (MON810) and Non-GM Soybean Meal in Diets for Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.) Juveniles – Impact on Survival, Growth Performance, Development, Digestive Function, and Transcriptional Expression of Intestinal Immune and Stress Responses

“…Except for the magnitude, they were generally in line with results of previous studies with SBM in diets for older salmonids [11], [28], [33], [46]. Nevertheless, and in contrast to many studies with older salmonids [28], [33], [47]–[48], survival and growth performance of the SBM-fed juvenile salmon was enhanced, the cause of which is not clear. However, some studies indicate that low levels of saponins can stimulate growth [49]–[52], suggesting that the present positive effect of SBM may be due to its content of saponins.…”