Soybean Meal Induces Intestinal Inflammation in Zebrafish Larvae

Abstract

The necessary replacement of fish meal with other protein source in diets of commercially important fish has prompted the study of the effect of the inclusion of different vegetable proteins sources on growth performance and on the gastro-intestinal tract. Currently, soybean meal is the primary protein source as a fish meal replacement because of its low price and high availability. Likewise, it is been documented that the ingestion of soybean meal by several fish species, such as salmonids and carp, triggers a type of intestinal inflammation called enteritis. In this paper, we analyzed the effects of the ingestion of soybean meal and two of its components, soy protein and soy saponin, on zebrafish to establish the basis for using zebrafish larvae as a model for fish nutrition. We took advantage of the existence of different transgenic lines, which allowed us to perform in vivo analysis. Our results indicated that larvae that were feed with soybean meal developed a clear intestinal inflammation as early as two day after beginning the diet. Moreover, we determined that is not the soy protein present in the diet but the soy saponin that is primarily responsible for triggering the immune response. These findings support the use of zebrafish screening assays to identify novel ingredients that would to improved current fish diets or would formulate new ones.

Effects of dietary soy saponins and phytosterols on gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) during the on-growing period

“…This intestinal disorder has also been observed when using other plant ingredients (Penn et al, 2011;Chikwati et al, 2012;Kortner et al, 2012). Other species may also develop enteritis when fed soy-containing diets (Burrells et al, 1999;Uran et al, 2008;Hedrera et al, 2013). Sea bream fed a diet containing 30% soybean meal showed widening of the lamina propria due to cell infiltration (Bonaldo et al, 2008), a feature also described in the enteritis model in salmon (Krogdahl et al, 2003).…”

Aeromonas hydrophila induces intestinal inflammation in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella): An experimental model

“…The existing experimental models of intestinal inflammation in fish can be classified into two main types. One model is induced with saponin, an antinutritional factor present in soybean meal (SBM) (Hedrera et al, 2013;Rombout et al, 2011), and the other is chemically induced with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (Oehlers et al, 2013;Zhao et al, 2014). These models have been indispensable tools not only in clarifying the mechanisms of inflammatory reactions but also in evaluating novel fish diets.…”

“…It is widely accepted that animal disease models not only provide important insights into pathogenesis, but also allow the development of novel drugs or treatment strategies (Wirtz et al, 2007). Although several chemically induced or feed-induced models of intestinal inflammation have been developed in fish (Chikwati et al, 2013;Hedrera et al, 2013;Rombout et al, 2011;Urán et al, 2008;Zhao et al, 2014), no pathogen-induced experimental model of intestinal inflammation in fish is available. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a grass carp model of intestinal inflammation Aquaculture 434 (2014) 171-178 following experimental infection with the pathogen A. hydrophila.…”

Zebrafish as animal model for aquaculture nutrition research

“…This approach has been addressed exactly by Hedrera et al (2013). They present a new strategy to analyze the potential intestinal impact that the intake of different food ingredients can trigger.…”