Ultra‐diluted bioactive compounds enhance energy storage and oocyte quality during gonad conditioning of Pacific calico scallop Argopecten ventricosus (Sowerby II, 1842)

Abstract

Ultra‐diluted bioactive compounds have emerged as an alternative to enhance marine organism performance and to improve broodstock gonad maturation. This study evaluated for the first time the effect of three homeopathically ultra‐diluted bioactive compounds (HUBC’s) authorized by the health authority as medicines for humans, on the general reproductive physiology of Argopecten ventricosus, a commercially important scallop species. The experiment included three HUBC’s treatments at centesimal dilution assessed in triplicate under laboratory conditions, T1: PaV‐30C + PhA‐30C, T2: PaV‐30C + SiT‐30C, and T3: ViT‐30C, and a non‐treated field reference group (FRG) maintained in aquaculture facilities as reference. The bioenergetics of scallop reproduction and oocyte quality increased with the three HUBC treatments, but particularly in those treated with T2. The organisms treated with T3 showed not only the highest proliferation of vitellogenic and post‐vitellogenic oocytes but also the greatest oxidative damage in tissues and oocytes. In contrast, the scallops from T1 and T2 showed less oxidative damage. The results suggest that ultra‐diluted formula T2 is a potential alternative to optimize A. ventricosus gonad ripening, food‐nutrient management and oocyte quality because although T3 allowed accelerating the gametogenesis process, it increased oxidative damage. This study could help to improve gonad broodstock condition and larval yield of this species in hatcheries.

Highly diluted bioactive compounds in marine aquaculture: A potential alternative for sustainable production

“…toxin) and nanoparticles, among others 3,11,12,20 . Particularly, the use of HDBC, ViP, ViA, SiT, PhA, ViD, PaV and Heel‐Mix, have been evaluated in marine organisms on biological process regulation 5,6,8,15,16,23,24 …”

“…The use of HDBC has been documented in animals, plants, in vitro assays 12,[20][21][22] and recently (2016-to date) in marine organisms. 5,6,8,15,16,23,24 A wide range of substances and molecules that can be used to formulate HDBC exist, not only including herbs, minerals, metals, pathogenic bacterial lysates, diseased or parasitised animal or plant tissues, and venoms but also specific molecules, such as peptides (e.g. toxin) and nanoparticles, among others.…”

“…Thus, the interaction between HDBC and marine organisms is recorded in general condition and organism's performance. 3,4,14,15 This interaction can also be recorded in one or many mechanisms related to defence and cytoprotection, improving survival rates of marine organisms when challenged against pathogenic bacteria. 2,7,8,16,17 For this reason, interest has aroused in understanding the mode of action and positive effects of the HDBC ViP, ViA, SiT, PhA, ViD, PaV and Heel-Mix, on defence mechanisms of marine organisms, and the implication of using immunostimulants in very low concentrations.…”

“…3 In A. ventricosus broodstock, the application of PaV-30C and SiT-30C increased ovary lipid and carbohydrate content, reduced ovary oxidative stress and increased muscle carbohydrate and digestive gland lipid contents. 15 The application of PaV-30C and PhA-30C reduced ovary oxidative stress. 15 Moreover, in the same species, the addition of SiT-31C, Calcarea sulphurica 31C (Similia ® , Mexico» CaS-31C) and Hepar sulphuris 31-C (Similia ® , Mexico» HeS-31C) increased ovary lipid content and number of sexually matured organisms after a conditioning period under laboratory-controlled environment (Table 2).…”

“…The application of these highly diluted treatments have been related to increases in growth rate, digestive enzymatic activity, condition index, energetic reserves, oocyte quality and gut microbiota modulation. 4,[13][14][15] Most of these treatments have successfully increased immune response and survival rates of marine organisms when challenged against pathogenic bacteria. 2,7,8,16,17 Interestingly, when HDBC are used prophylactically, not always do they activate biomarkers related to the immune response before challenge against a pathogen.…”