Marine-Derived Chitosan Nanoparticles Improved the Intestinal Histo-Morphometrical Features in Association with the Health and Immune Response of Grey Mullet (Liza ramada)

Abstract

Marine-derived substances are known for their beneficial influences on aquatic animals’ performances and are recommended to improve intestinal health, immunity, and anti-oxidative status. The present study investigates the role of chitosan nanoparticles on the intestinal histo-morphometrical features in association with the health and immune response of Grey Mullet (Liza ramada). Chitosan nanoparticles are included in the diets at 0, 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg and introduced to fish in a successive feeding trial for eight weeks. The final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG), and specific growth rate (SGR) parameters are significantly increased while feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreases by chitosan nanoparticles compared to the control (p < 0.05). The morphometric analysis of the intestines reveals a significant improvement in villus height, villus width, and the number of goblet cells in chitosan-treated groups in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, there is a positive correlation between the thickness of the enterocyte brush border and the chitosan dose, referring to an increasing absorptive activity. Histologically, the intestinal wall of Grey Mullet consists of four layers; mucosa, sub-mucosa, tunica muscularis (muscular layers), and serosa. The histological examination of the L. ramada intestine shows a normal histo-morphology. The epithelial layer of intestinal mucosa is thrown into elongated finger-like projections, the intestinal villi. The values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells (RBCs), total protein (TP), albumin, and globulin are significantly increased in fish fed 1, and 2 g/kg of chitosan nanoparticles compared to fish fed 0 and 0.5 g/kg (p < 0.05). The highest levels of TP and albumin are observed in fish fed 1 g/kg diet (p < 0.05). The lysozyme activity and phagocytic index are significantly enhanced by feeding chitosan nanoparticles at 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg, whereas the phagocytic activity is improved in fish fed 1 and 2 g/kg (p < 0.05). The highest lysozyme activity and phagocytic index are observed in fish fed 1 g/kg. SOD is significantly activated by feeding chitosan nanoparticles at 1 g/kg. Simultaneously, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) activities also are enhanced by feeding chitosan at 1 and 2 g/kg, compared to fish fed 0 and 0.5 g/kg (p < 0.05). The highest GPx and CAT activities are observed in fish fed 1 g/kg (p < 0.05). Conversely, the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels are decreased by feeding chitosan at 1 and 2 g/kg, with the lowest being in fish fed 1 g/kg (p < 0.05). To summarize, the results elucidate that L. ramada fed dietary chitosan nanoparticles have a marked growth rate, immune response, and anti-oxidative response. These improvements are attributed to the potential role of chitosan nanoparticles in enhancing intestinal histo-morphometry and intestinal health. These results soundly support the possibility of using chitosan nanoparticles at 1–2 g/kg as a feasible functional supplement for aquatic animals.

Spirulina platensis Alleviated the Oxidative Damage in the Gills, Liver, and Kidney Organs of Nile Tilapia Intoxicated with Sodium Sulphate

“…Recently, there is continuous and increasing attention among researchers on finding safe feed supplements for potential attenuation of the undesirable and toxic influences of chemical pollutants on the exposed aquatic organism [ 36 , 37 , 38 ]. Considering the toxic impacts of SS on aquatic organisms’ performances [ 4 ], there should be a practical solution to counteract the oxidative stress induced by SS toxicity.…”

Ecotoxicity evaluation of polymeric nanoparticles loaded with ascorbic acid for fish nutrition in aquaculture

“…In the present case, the AA was protected, enabling it to be more effectively directed at the fish, consequently resulting in better fish development when increasing amounts of AA were added to the feed. In other work, supplementation of the fish diet with chitosan nanoparticles had positive effects on body weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate of grey mullet ( Liza ramada ) [ 88 ]. Similar results were observed for Nile tilapia [ 84 – 86 , 89 , 90 ], rainbow trout [ 91 ], silver carp [ 92 ], and loach [ 93 ] fed diets enriched with chitosan and/or chitosan nanoparticles.…”

Effects of Activated Charcoal on Growth, Immunity, Oxidative Stress Markers, and Physiological Responses of Nile Tilapia Exposed to Sub-Lethal Imidacloprid Toxicity

“…The improvement of the growth performance of Nile tilapia in the current study may be explained by several factors such as (1) the adsorptive ability of AC, which helps in the elimination of the impurities and gases from the intestinal tract, which will, in turn, improve the digestion of diets [ 6 , 7 ], (2) dietary supplementation with AC, which could improve the absorptive functions of the intestinal villi, which will consequently increase the feed utilization [ 8 ], and (3) improving the intestinal histomorphometric parameters such as the intestinal villi height of Nile tilapia [ 2 , 9 ], and giant trevally [ 13 , 14 ]. The increase of the intestinal villus height will increase the surface area of absorption, contributing positively to the absorption of nutrients [ 53 ].…”