Dietary Creatine Supplementation in Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Increases Dorsal Muscle Area and the Expression of myod1 and capn1 Genes

Abstract

Creatine (Cr) is an amino acid derivative with an important role in the cell as energy buffer that has been largely used as dietary supplement to increase muscle strength and lean body mass in healthy individuals and athletes. However, studies in fish are scarce. The aim of this work is to determine whether dietary Cr supplementation affects muscle growth in gilthead seabream ( Sparus aurata ) juveniles. Fish were fed ad libitum for 69 days with diets containing three increasing levels of creatine monohydrate (2, 5, and 8%) that were compared with a non-supplemented control (CTRL) diet. At the end of the trial, the fast-twist skeletal muscle growth dynamics (muscle cellularity) and the expression of muscle-related genes were evaluated. There was a general trend for Cr-fed fish to be larger and longer than those fed the CTRL, but no significant differences in daily growth index (DGI) were registered among dietary treatments. The dorsal cross-sectional muscle area (DMA) of fish fed Cr 5 and Cr 8% was significantly larger than that of fish fed CTRL. The groups supplemented with Cr systematically had a higher relative number of both small-sized (≤20 μm) and large-sized fibers (≥120 μm). Dorsal total fibers number was highest in fish fed 5% Cr. In fish supplemented with 5% Cr, the relative expression of myogenic differentiation 1 ( myod1 ) increased almost four times compared to those fed the CTRL diet. The relative expression of calpain 3 ( capn3 ) was highest in fish fed diets with 2% Cr supplementation, but did not differ significantly from those fed the CTRL or Cr 5%. The myod1 gene expression had a positive and significant correlation with that of capn1, capns1a , and capn3 expression. These results suggest that the observed modulation of gene expression was not enough to produce a significant alteration in muscle phenotype under the tested conditions, as a non-significant increase in muscle fiber diameter and higher total number of fiber was observed, but still resulted in increased DMA. Additional studies may be required in order to better clarify the effect of dietary Cr supplementation in fish, possibly in conjunction with induced resistance training.

Effects of sheep slaughter age on myogenic characteristics in skeletal muscle satellite cells

“…Myf5 expression was extremely low in Mth-3 during the cultivation process ( Figures 3a and 3b ). Previous studies demonstrated that Myf5 and MyoD can complement each other in function [ 16 , 25 ], therefore, we speculated that the differentiation of SMSCs in Mth-3 was mainly regulated by MyoD, whereas in Mth-15, the expressions of Myf5 and MyoD were high and thus both may regulate cell differentiation. On day 5, the expression of Myf5 in Mth-15 was significantly higher than in Mth-3 (p<0.05).…”

“…Myf5 expression was extremely low in Mth-3 during the cultivation process (Figures 3a and 3b). Previous studies demonstrated that Myf5 and MyoD can complement each other in function [16,25], therefore, we speculated that the differentiation of SMSCs in Mth-3 was mainly regulated by MyoD, whereas in Mth-15,…”

Creatine: A valuable supplement in aquafeeds?

“…In human applications, creatine monohydrate powder (CAS No. : 6020‐87‐7) is the most commonly used form since the early 1990s 23,49,55 . Other formulations include creatine hydrochloride and, recently, a co‐amorphous formulation of creatine and citric acid, which has a better solubility in water 56 .…”

“…The MRFs include four transcription factors, myogenic determining factor (MyoD), myogenic factor5 (Myf5), muscle regulatory factor‐4 (Mrf4) and myogenin (Myog) (see Table 2). Key factors in the development of skeletal muscle have been shown to be stimulated by creatine supplementation 22–24 …”

Weighted gene co-expression network indicates that the DYNLL2 is an important regulator of chicken breast muscle development and is regulated by miR-148a-3p

“…The characteristics of muscle fibers include muscle fiber diameter and muscle fiber density. Generally, muscle fiber diameter and muscle fiber density are negatively correlated [ 2 , 3 ]. The more muscle fibers per unit area, the greater the density of muscle fibers and the more tender the meat [ 4 ].…”