Metabolomics investigation of dietary effects on flesh quality in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

Abstract

BackgroundThe ultrahigh density intensive farming model of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) may elicit growth inhibition, decrease flesh quality, and increase disease susceptibility of fish. The degradation in quality and excessive fat accumulation in cultured C. idellus have long been attributed to possible alterations in the lipid metabolism of fish muscle tissues as a result of overnutrition from artificial diets. To investigate the effects of different diets on fish muscle quality, a large-scale metabolomics study was performed on 250 tails of C. idellus.FindingsThe experimental fish were divided into four groups based on sex and diet—female artificial feed (FAF), female grass feed, male artificial feed (MAF), and male grass feed (MGF). After a 113-day rearing period, the artificial feed (AF) group showed a significantly higher total mass of muscle fat (P < 0.01), with the FAF group being the highest. Metabolomics profiling based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed distinctive patterns of clustering according to the four groups. Overall, artificial feeding was associated with higher concentrations of docosapentaenoic acid, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid, whereas grass feeding was associated with elevated n-3 unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) such as eicosapentaenoic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and gamma-linolenic acid. Artificial feeding also resulted in significant increased docosahexaenoic acid in MAF muscle than in MGF fish, whereas there was no significance in the comparison of female samples. Metabolic pathway analyses using both targeted and untargeted approaches consistently revealed that arachidonic acid metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways were significantly different between AF and grass fed groups.ConclusionsOur results suggest that grass is a better source of dietary fatty acid and protein when compared to artificial feed. Grass feeding could effectively lower triglycerides in serum, reduce fat accumulation, and alter lipid compositions in fish muscle by increasing the concentrations of n-3 UFAs, leading to better nutrition and health.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals an association of gibel carp fatty liver with ferroptosis pathway

“…Fatty liver diseases have been found in most main farmed fish, and caused many problems, such as low feed efficiency, immune response, flesh and nutritional quality effects [ 1 – 5 ]. The utilization of artificially formulated feeds can bring nutritional, physiological and ecological effects to fish [ 2 , 6 – 9 ]. However, exceeding nutrition, improper artificial formulated diets and overfeeding have led to a growing concern of liver fatty problems, such as hepatocyte enlargement, lipid accumulation, steatosis, fibrosis and necrosis [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Untargeted LC–MS metabolomics approach reveals metabolic changes in genetically improved farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with fatty liver induced by a high‐fat diet

“…These methods make it possible to analyse biochemical changes to explore the mechanism of metabolic diseases related to diet (Prathomya et al., 2017; Tomasova et al., 2019). In recent years, metabolomics analyses have been widely used to explore fish metabolic disorders (Casu et al., 2019; Prathomya et al., 2017; Zhao et al., 2018). For example, Prathomya et al.…”

Lipid-Lowering Effects of Lotus Leaf Alcoholic Extract on Serum, Hepatopancreas, and Muscle of Juvenile Grass Carp via Gene Expression

“…Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) is an important commercial freshwater fish in high demand within China (FAO, 2018). To meet market needs, modern intensive aquaculture is based on formulated feeds that promote fish growth and increase grass carp production (Zhao et al, 2018). However, the formulated feeds induce lipid metabolism disorders, causing excess fat deposition in the fish (especially in the hepatopancreas and muscle), resulting in physiological impairment and the degradation of flesh quality (Wang et al, 2018;Zhao et al, 2018).…”

“…To meet market needs, modern intensive aquaculture is based on formulated feeds that promote fish growth and increase grass carp production (Zhao et al, 2018). However, the formulated feeds induce lipid metabolism disorders, causing excess fat deposition in the fish (especially in the hepatopancreas and muscle), resulting in physiological impairment and the degradation of flesh quality (Wang et al, 2018;Zhao et al, 2018). Thus, maintaining lipid homeostasis has become an important topic in modern aquaculture practice (Gui and Zhu, 2012).…”