Dietary ferulic acid supplementation improved cottonseed meal-based diet utilization by enhancing intestinal physical barrier function and liver antioxidant capacity in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon Idellus)

Abstract

The present study explored the effects of ferulic acid (FA) supplementation in cottonseed meal (CSM)-based diets on grass carp growth performance, feed utilization, liver antioxidation status, and intestinal physical barrier function. Here, four experimental diets supplemented with FA at graded levels (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) and CSM as the main protein source (384.6 g/kg feed) for an 8-week feeding trial. Our results indicated that 200 mg/kg FA supplementation in a CSM-based diet significantly improved growth performance [including final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate, and specific growth rate] and feed utilization [including feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio] in grass carp (p < 0.05). The results of polynomial regression analysis based on FBW recommended that the optimal dose for FA supplementation was 204 mg/kg. Compared with that no FA supplementation, 200 mg/kg FA supplementation significantly reduced liver malondialdehyde levels and increased glutathione reductase activities (p < 0.05) and 100 mg/kg FA supplementation significantly increased liver total superoxide dismutase activities and reduced blood alanine transaminase levels (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, 100 mg/kg FA supplementation also led to significantly increased mRNA expression of zo-1, zo-2, occludin, claudin-b, claudin-3, claudin-7a, and claudin-12, encoding intestinal tight junction proteins (p < 0.05). Notably, FA supplementation could reduce lipid deposition by regulating bile acid (BA) secretion. In this study, 100 and 200 mg/kg FA supplementation significantly increased blood and liver total BA levels, respectively (p < 0.05); 100 mg/kg FA also significantly activated mRNA expressions of fxr and cyp7a1 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the whole-body composition results presented that FA treatment relieved lipid deposition, particularly 50 and 200 mg/kg FA supplementation (p < 0.05). Moreover, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels were significantly lower and high-density lipoprotein levels were significantly higher with 200 mg/kg FA supplementation than with no FA supplementation (p < 0.05). Taken together, the results indicated that FA may be a beneficial feed additive to boost fish growth performance and increase CSM utilization.

The application of protease in aquaculture: Prospects for enhancing the aquafeed industry

“…(2022) reported that dietary 200 to 800 mg/kg protease supplementation could significantly decrease the contents of AST and ALT in red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkia fed plant-based diets. Blood ALT and AST are crucial indicators of liver injury in aquatic animals, and their low levels always indicate liver health ( Chen et al., 2021 , 2022a , 2022b ). The aforementioned findings substantiated the assertion that the incorporation of protease in LFD exerted a hepatoprotective effect on aquatic animals.…”

“…While LFD and PSD have been recognized to offer cost-saving advantages and reduce dependence on fishmeal, studies have also linked them to adverse effects on fish and shrimp ( Panigrahi et al., 2019 ; Willora et al., 2022 ). Currently, plant-based proteins dominate fishmeal substitution in aquafeed ( Chen et al., 2022a , 2022b ); however, these proteins have several drawbacks, including anti-nutritional factors (ANFs), low digestibility, poor bioavailability, and palatability issues ( Shomorin et al., 2019 ). Previous research has indicated that diets incorporating plant proteins may impede the activity of digestive enzymes.…”

Probiotic Pediococcus pentosaceus restored gossypol-induced intestinal barrier injury by increasing propionate content in Nile tilapia

“…Cottonseed meal (CSM) is a protein-rich product that can be found in large quantities and is typically more cost-effective compared to other protein sources such as fish meal (FM) and soybean meal (SBM) [ 14 – 16 ]. However, deepening researches have revealed that CSM especially the gossypol residue contained in CSM could cause severe intestinal inflammation and gut barrier injury in diverse monogastric animals such as fishes and livestock [ 13 , 17 – 24 ]. Try to decrease the remaining gossypol in CSM is one of the important strategy to eliminate the deleterious effects [ 25 , 26 ], but it depends on the dephenolization process which may cause extra cost.…”

Ferrous Ion Alleviates Lipid Deposition and Inflammatory Responses Caused by a High Cottonseed Meal Diet by Modulating Hepatic Iron Transport Homeostasis and Controlling Ferroptosis in Juvenile Ctenopharyngodon idellus

“…Mitigating the growth inhibition and oxidative stress induced by CSM diets can be achieved through chemical detoxification, microbial fermentation, or supplementation with green additives, as previously demonstrated in juvenile grass carps (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) [12], Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) [13], and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) [14]. Among these methods, chemical detoxification by adding FeSO 4 to the CSM detoxification process has been widely adopted due to its cost-effectiveness, simplicity, and efficacy.…”