Dietary Protein Source Influence on Body Size and Composition in Growing Zebrafish

Abstract

The importance of nutritional components on growth and body composition outcomes has been demonstrated in multiple model organisms. Although zebrafish (Danio rerio) have an established role in research laboratories for its utility in understanding developmental biology and genetics, the influence of diet composition on basic growth outcomes is less well demonstrated. In the current study, four protein sources were tested in isolation using isonitrogenous diets or combined using a defined lab diet. Fish (n&60/group) were group housed (n £ 10 fish/1.8 L tank) and fed ad libitum three times daily for 12 weeks. Fish were assessed for effects on length, body weight, and body composition (lean and fat mass). Individuals fed wheat gluten protein were significantly shorter in length, with significantly lower body weight and lean mass in both male and female fish, although percent body fat was high compared with other diets. Casein-fed fish similarly had significantly reduced body length, body weight, and lean and fat mass in both male and female fish, with a low percent body fat compared with other diets (leanest). Fish protein hydrolysate-fed fish had significantly lower lean mass and a high percent body fat, whereas soy protein isolate diet performed similarly to a mixed-protein control diet for all measured outcomes. These results suggest that the protein source, with accompanying amino acid ratios or additional protein source differences, has a significant impact on growth and body composition outcomes in zebrafish when fed in a semipurified, defined diet background.

Nonhatching Decapsulated Artemia Cysts As a Replacement to Artemia Nauplii in Juvenile and Adult Zebrafish Culture

“…(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26) mm, 70-237 mg) and Smith et al(15- 20 mm, 140-260 mg) 16,17. Our results also coincide with Lawrence et al who found that female zebrafish fed nauplii alone exhibited significantly lower growth compared to females fed a standard diet containing both nauplii andFIG.…”

In VivoDetermination of Body Composition in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) by Quantitative Magnetic Resonance

“…12 Fish included both sexes and were *4 months of age at measurement. All procedures were approved by the UAB IACUC and adhered to standard zebrafish husbandry requirements for housing, anesthesia, and euthanasia.…”

“…To this end, determination of fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) with QMR has been applied to the zebrafish model in the context of a dietary protein-feeding study. 12 The current study includes a validation and cross-validation comparison of QMR with CCA in the zebrafish.…”

Integrative Physiology: At the Crossroads of Nutrition, Microbiota, Animal Physiology, and Human Health

“…Studies in adult zebrafish have identified tissue-specific responses to starvation (Drew et al, 2008; Tian et al, 2015) and feeding (Seiliez et al, 2013), and the impact of diet composition on growth, metabolism, inflammation, and behavior (O’Brine et al, 2015; Powell et al, 2015; Smith et al, 2013a). Interestingly, adult phenotypes can also be influenced by nutritional exposures during earlier larval stages (Perera and Yufera, 2016; Rocha et al, 2015).…”