Morphology of the digestive system in carnivorous freshwater dourado Salminus brasiliensis.

The digestive system of teleost shows remarkable functional and morphological diversity. In this study, the digestive tract and accessory organs of dourado Salminus brasiliensis are characterized using anatomical, histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses. The existence of taste buds bordered by microridges in the oesophagus of dourado was recorded for the first time, thus showing that the species drives food intake by either swallowing or rejecting the food item. The Y-shaped stomach of dourado consisted of cardiac, cecal and pyloric regions with tubular gastric glands registered solely in the cardiac and cecal segments. The intestine is a short N-shaped tube with two loops, an intestinal coefficient of 0.73. The structure of pyloric caeca is similar to that of the intestine wall, comprising tunica mucosa, tela submucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica serosa layers. Histochemical analyses revealed an increased incidence of goblet cells from the midgut to the hindgut segment. A well-developed enteric plexus of scattered nerve cell and fibres are found along the digestive tract, and the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactive neurons and fibres were identified in the myenteric plexus from the oesophagus to the hindgut. The exocrine pancreas appears diffuse in the mesentery around the stomach, intestine and also reaches the liver, and the endocrine pancreas is organized as a few islets of Langerhans. The liver comprises three distinct, asymmetric lobes, and the portal triad arrangement was registered in this tissue.

Metabolic responses to dietary carbohydrate/lipids ratios in neotropical hybrid catfish (♂Pseudoplatystoma corruscans×♀Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum).

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of different carbohydrate and lipid (CHO/L) ratios on the performance and energy metabolism of hybrid catfish (♂Pseudoplatystoma corruscans × â™€ Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum). One hundred and sixty-eight fish (104.9±16.5 g BW) were distributed into 24 100-L tanks. The experiment was performed using a randomised block design with four CHO/L ratios (0.45, 1.00, 1.66 and 2.85) and six replications. Growth performance, protein content, glucose and triglycerides in plasma, muscle and liver, and the hepatic activity of the malic and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzymes were measured after 60 feeding days. No significant differences were observed in growth performance, protein and triglycerides of plasma and muscle, hepatic protein or malic enzyme activity. CHO/L: 2.85 provided the highest plasma and liver glucose, while CHO/L: 0.45 showed high liver triglycerides. A linear effect was found for the hepatic activity of G6PD and dietary starch levels (R2=0.93). The hepatic activity of G6PD was greater in CHO/L=2.85 than for CHO/L: 0.45. In conclusion, the limit of dietary starch inclusion and lipids were 15% and 9.00%, respectively (CHO/L: 1.66), and this level did not affect the energy metabolism of the juvenile hybrid catfish.

Diets Supplemented with Probiotics Improve the Performance of Broilers Exposed to Heat Stress from 15 Days of Age.

The poultry sector demands alternative additives to antibiotics that can be used as performance enhancers. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the probiotics effects on performance, intestinal health, and redox status of 720 broilers exposed to heat stress from 15 days of age. Eight dietary treatments were evaluated: basal diet (BD) without antibiotic and probiotic (T1); BD supplemented with antibiotic zinc bacitracin (T2), BD supplemented with commercial probiotic of Bacillus subtilis DSM 17,299 (T3), BD supplemented with non-commercial probiotic of Lactococcus lactis NCDO 2118, Lactobacillus delbrueckii CNRZ 327, Escherichia coli CEC15, or Saccharomyces boulardii (T4 to T7), and BD simultaneously supplemented with the four non-commercial probiotics (T8). Feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion were determined in the period from 1 to 42 days of age. Carcass and cuts yield, abdominal fat deposition, cloacal temperature, weight and length of intestine, activity of myeloperoxidase and eosinophilic peroxidase enzymes in the jejunum, jejunal histomorphometry, relative gene expression in the jejunum (occludin, zonulin, interleukin-8, cholecystokinin, ghrelin, and heat shock protein-70), and liver (heat shock protein-70), in addition to malondialdehyde level and superoxide dismutase activity in the intestine, liver, and blood, were measured in broilers at 42 days old. As main results, broilers fed T1 diet exhibited lower weight gain (3.222 kg) and worse feed conversion (1.70 kg/kg). However, diets containing non-commercial probiotics resulted in up to 3.584 kg of weight gain and improved feed conversion by up to 10%, similar to that observed for broilers of the T2 and T3 groups.

Effect of fixed feeding time on growth, body composition, and hepatic histology of hybrid catfish (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum x Leiarius marmoratus) fed with carbohydrates and lipids ratios / Efecto de la alimentación a tiempo fijo sobre el crecimiento, composición corporal e histología hepática del bagre híbrido (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum x Leiarius marmoratus) alimentado con proporciones de carbohidratos y lípidos / Efeito do tempo de alimentação fixa no crescimento, composição corporal e histologia hepática do bagre híbrido (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum x Leiarius marmoratus) alimentados com relações de carboidrato e lipídios

Background: feed and light are the most important factors affecting the biological rhythms of fish. This work studies fish adaptation to those factors. Objetive: to determine the influence of feeding time and dietary starch and lipid levels on growth, body composition, and liver histology of hybridized Brazilian catfish. Methods: two isoenergetic diets were formulated to contain two levels of crude starch (CHO, %) and lipids (L, %): 5/11 CHO/L and 25/2.2 CHO/L. Sixty animals (260 ± 10 g) were randomly distributed into twelve tanks (100 L). Using self-feeders, two fish groups were fed a diet containing either 5% or 25% starch during the light period (ML), while other two groups were fed the same diets during the dark period (MD). The following parameters were measured: final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, food intake, hepatosomatic index, and viscerasomatic index. The experiment was carried out in triplicate for 60 days. Results: growth parameters such as specific growth rate (SGR), final weight, and weight gain showed statistical differences between groups, with the best results for the group fed the 25% starch diet during ML. Significant differences between groups on body lipid content, energy, and dry weight were also recorded for those feed 25% starch in the MD. A significant effect was also observed on liver lipid and glycogen content, with values generally higher for ML with 5% starch. Fish fed 25% starch showed significantly lowest lipid and glycogen content during ML. Surprisingly, the opposite occurred regarding liver composition for fish fed in MD. Conclusions: we suggest diurnal feeding should be practiced for optimal performance of juvenile fish, however dark or light phases could be used, taking into consideration its relationship with carbohydrate levels.

Antecedentes: la alimentación y la luz son los factores más importantes que afectan los ritmos biológicos en peces. En este artículo se presenta un poco de conocimiento acerca de la plasticidad de los peces para la utilización del alimento. Objetivo: este estudio se realizó para determinar la influencia del horario de alimentación y los niveles de almidón y lípidos de la dieta en el crecimiento, la composición corporal y la histología hepática en el bagre híbrido. Métodos: fueron formuladas dos dietas isoenergéticas para contener dos niveles de almidón (CHO, %) y lípidos (L, %): 5/11 CHO/L y 25/2.2 CHO/L. Sesenta animales (260 ± 10 g) fueron distribuidos aleatoriamente en 12 tanques (100 L). Un grupo de peces fue alimentado con 5% de almidón en el periodo diurno (ML), y otro grupo fue alimentado en el periodo nocturno (MD). Se realizaron los mismos procedimientos para el grupo alimentado con 25% de almidón. Los siguientes parámetros fueron medidos: peso final, ganancia de peso, tasa de crecimiento especifico, ingestión alimentaria, índice hepatosomático y índice vicerosomático. El experimento se realizó por triplicado durante 60 días. Resultados: los parámetros de crecimiento como la tasa de crecimiento específico (SGR), peso final y ganancia de peso mostraron diferencias estadísticas entre los grupos, con mejores resultados en los grupos alimentados con 25% de almidón en ML. Se observaron diferencias significativas entre los grupos para el contenido de lípidos en el cuerpo, energía y materia seca, para los animales alimentados con 25% de almidón en MD. Hubo un efecto significativo sobre los lípidos hepático y glucógeno, con los valores generalmente más altos en ML para los peces alimentados con 5% de almidón. Sin embargo, los peces alimentados con 25% de almidón presentaron significativamente menor contenido de lípidos y glucógeno en la condición de ML. Sin embargo, ocurrió lo contrario con los peces alimentados en MD, para la composición del hígado. Conclusiones: la alimentación diurna se sugirió para un mejor rendimiento de los juveniles, sin embargo, la fase nocturna o de luz se podrían utilizar, teniendo en cuenta su relación con los niveles de carbohidratos.

Antecedentes: alimentos e luz são os fatores mais importantes que arrastam os ritmos biológicos em peixes. Neste trabalho, trazemos um pouco do conhecimento sobre a plasticidade dos peixes para a utilização dos alimentos. Objetivo: este estudo foi realizado para determinar a influencia do horário de alimentação e níveis de amido e lipídio dietético no crescimento, composição corporal e histologia hepática em um bagre hibrido. Métodos: duas dietas isoenergéticas foram formuladas para conter dois níveis de amido (CHO, %) e lipídeo (L, %): 5/11 CHO/L e 25/2.2 CHO/L. Sessenta animais (260 ± 10 g) foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em 12 tanques (100 L). Um grupo de peixes foi alimentado com 5% de amido no período diurno (ML), e outro grupo foi alimentado no período noturno (MD). Os mesmos procedimentos foram realizados para o grupo que de alimentava com 25% de amido. Os seguintes parâmetros foram medidos: peso final, ganho de peso, taxa de crescimento especifico, consumo, índice hepatossomático y índice vicerossomático. O experimento foi conduzido em triplicado por 60 dias. Resultados: os parâmetros de crescimento como SGR, peso final e ganho de peso mostraram diferença estatística entre os grupos, com melhores resultados nos grupos alimentados com 25% de amido em ML. Diferença significativa entre grupos para conteúdo de lipídio na carcaça, energia e material seca foram observados para os animais alimentados com 25% de amido em MD. Foi observado efeito significativo no lipídio hepático e glicogênio com valores em geral mais altos em ML para os peixes alimentados com 5% de amido. Entretanto, os peixes alimentados com 25% de amido mostraram significativamente baixo conteúdo de lipídio e glicogênio sobre a condição de MD. Surpreendentemente, o oposto correu com os peixes alimentados em MD, para a composição do fígado. Conclusões: a alimentação diurna foi sugerida para um melhor desempenho dos juvenis, no entanto, a fase noturna ou de luz poderiam ser usados , levando em consideração sua relação com os níveis de carboidratos.