The Efficacy of Intratissue Percutaneous Electrolysis (EPI®) and Nutritional Factors for the Treatment of Induced Tendinopathy in Wistar Rats: Hepatic Intermediary Metabolism Effects.

Achilles tendinopathy (TP) is characterized as the third most common disease of the musculoskeletal system, and occurs in three phases. There is currently no evidence of effective treatment for this medical condition. In this study, the modulatory effects of the minimally invasive technique intratissue percutaneous electrolysis (EPI) and combinations of EPI with four nutritional factors included in the diet, hydroxytyrosol (HT), maslinic acid (MA), glycine, and aspartate (AA), on hepatic intermediary metabolism was examined in Wistar rats with induced tendinopathy at various stages of TP. Results obtained showed that induced tendinopathy produced alterations in the liver intermediary metabolisms of the rats. Regarding carbohydrate metabolism, a reduction in the activity of pro-inflammatory enzymes in the later stages of TP was observed following treatment with EPI alone. Among the combined treatments using nutritional factors with EPI, HT+EPI and AA+EPI had the greatest effect on reducing inflammation in the late stages of TP. In terms of lipid metabolism, the HT+EPI and AA+EPI groups showed a decrease in lipogenesis. In protein metabolism, the HT+EPI group more effectively reduced the inflammatory effects of induced TP. Treatment with EPI combined with nutritional factors might help regulate intermediary metabolism in TP disease and reduce the inflammation process.

Effect of Nutraceutical Factors on Hepatic Intermediary Metabolism in Wistar Rats with Induced Tendinopathy.

Tendinopathy (TP) is a complex clinical syndrome characterized by local inflammation, pain in the affected area, and loss of performance, preceded by tendon injury. The disease develops in three phases: Inflammatory phase, proliferative phase, and remodeling phase. There are currently no proven treatments for early reversal of this type of injury. However, the metabolic pathways of the transition metabolism, which are necessary for the proper functioning of the organism, are known. These metabolic pathways can be modified by a number of external factors, such as nutritional supplements. In this study, the modulatory effect of four dietary supplements, maslinic acid (MA), hydroxytyrosol (HT), glycine, and aspartate (AA), on hepatic intermediary metabolism was observed in Wistar rats with induced tendinopathy at different stages of the disease. Induced tendinopathy in rats produces alterations in the liver intermediary metabolism. Nutraceutical treatments modify the intermediary metabolism in the different phases of tendinopathy, so AA treatment produced a decrease in carbohydrate metabolism. In lipid metabolism, MA and AA caused a decrease in lipogenesis at the tendinopathy and increased fatty acid oxidation. In protein metabolism, MA treatment increased GDH and AST activity; HT decreased ALT activity; and the AA treatment does not cause any alteration. Use of nutritional supplements of diet could help to regulate the intermediary metabolism in the TP.

Involvement of the PI3K/AKT Intracellular Signaling Pathway in the AntiCancer Activity of Hydroxytyrosol, a Polyphenol from Olea europaea, in Hematological Cells and Implication of HSP60 Levels in Its Anti-Inflammatory Activity.

Hydroxytyrosol (HT), the main representative of polyphenols of olive oil, has been described as one of the most powerful natural antioxidants, also showing anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, cardioprotective and anticancer activity in different type of cancers, but has been little studied in hematological neoplasms. The objective of this work was to evaluate the anticancer potential of HT in acute human leukemia T cells (Jurkat and HL60) and the anti-inflammatory potential in murine macrophages (Raw264.7). For this, cytotoxicity tests were performed for HT, showing IC50 values, at 24 h, for Jurkat, HL60 and Raw264.7 cells, of 27.3 µg·mL-1, 109.8 µg·mL-1 and 45.7 µg·mL-1, respectively. At the same time, HT caused cell arrest in G0/G1 phase in both Jurkat and HL60 cells by increasing G0/G1 phase and significantly decreasing S phase. Apoptosis and cell cycle assays revealed an antiproliferative effect of HT, decreasing the percentage of dividing cells and increasing apoptosis. Furthermore, HT inhibited the PI3K signaling pathway and, consequently, the MAPK pathway was activated. Inflammation tests revealed that HT acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, reducing NO levels in Raw264.7 cells previously stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These processes were confirmed by the changes in the expression of the main markers of inflammation and cancer. In conclusion, HT has an anticancer and anti-inflammatory effect in the cell lines studied, which were Raw264.7, Jurkat, and HL60, and could be used as a natural drug in the treatment of liquid cancers, leukemias, myelomas and lymphomas.

Nutraceutical Role of Polyphenols and Triterpenes Present in the Extracts of Fruits and Leaves of Olea europaea as Antioxidants, Anti-Infectives and Anticancer Agents on Healthy Growth.

There is currently a worldwide consensus and recognition of the undoubted health benefits of the so-called Mediterranean diet, with its intake being associated with a lower risk of mortality. The most important characteristics of this type of diet are based on the consumption of significant amounts of fruit, vegetables, legumes, and nuts, which provide, in addition to some active ingredients, fiber and a proportion of vegetable protein, together with extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) as the main sources of vegetable fat. Fish and meat from poultry and other small farm animals are the main sources of protein. One of the main components, as already mentioned, is EVOO, which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and to a lesser extent in polyunsaturated fatty acids. The intake of this type of nutrient also provides an important set of phytochemicals whose health potential is widely spread and agreed upon. These phytochemicals include significant amounts of anthocyanins, stilbenes, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenes of varying complexities. Therefore, the inclusion in the diet of this type of molecules, with a proven healthy effect, provides an unquestionable preventive and/or curative activity on an important group of pathologies related to cardiovascular, infectious, and cancerous diseases, as well as those related to the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this review is therefore to shed light on the nutraceutical role of two of the main phytochemicals present in Olea europaea fruit and leaf extracts, polyphenols, and triterpenes, on healthy animal growth. Their immunomodulatory, anti-infective, antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-carcinogenic capabilities show them to be potential nutraceuticals, providing healthy growth.

Oxidative status of blue tit nestlings varies with habitat and nestling size.

Oxidative status has been proposed as an important ecological and evolutionary force given that pro-oxidant metabolites damage molecules, cells and tissues, with fitness consequences for organisms. Consequently, organisms usually face a trade-off between regulating their oxidative status and other physiological traits. However, environmental stressors and the availability of dietary-derived antioxidants vary according to local conditions and, thus, organisms inhabiting different habitats face different oxidative pressures. Still, there is little information on how different environmental conditions influence the oxidative status of animals inhabiting terrestrial environments. In this work, we examined the variation in oxidative status in the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), a bird species with hatching asynchrony. Specifically, we examined the oxidative status of the largest and the smallest nestlings in the brood, inhabiting four forests differing in food availability and ectoparasite prevalence. We measured lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde; MDA) as a marker of oxidative damage, total antioxidant capacity (Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity; TEAC) and antioxidant enzymatic activity (catalase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase) in blood samples. The glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity differed among the forests, being the highest in the pine forest and the lowest in a mixed oak (Quercus) forest in the most humid area. Lipid peroxidation was higher in larger nestlings, suggesting higher oxidative damage with an increasing growth rate. Neither brood size, laying date, nor ectoparasites were related to the oxidative status of nestlings. These results suggest that nest rearing conditions might shape the oxidative status of birds, having consequences for habitat-dependent variation in regulation of oxidative status.

Are Ancestral Medical Practices the Future Solution to Today's Medical Problems?

Our cells and organs are threatened and, in most cases, constantly subjected to the aggression of numerous situations, both endogenous, characterized by unfavorable genetics, and exogenous, by deficient or inadequate nutrition, and even by a hostile environment; in most cases, they ultimately cause a cascade of degenerative and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and infections, as well as those related to the metabolic syndrome, all of which eventually generate irreversible damage to the organism and, consequently, a significant deterioration in its survival [...].

Unveiling the Differential Antioxidant Activity of Maslinic Acid in Murine Melanoma Cells and in Rat Embryonic Healthy Cells Following Treatment with Hydrogen Peroxide.

Maslinic acid (MA) is a natural triterpene from Olea europaea L. with multiple biological properties. The aim of the present study was to examine MA's effect on cell viability (by the MTT assay), reactive oxygen species (ROS levels, by flow cytometry) and key antioxidant enzyme activities (by spectrophotometry) in murine skin melanoma (B16F10) cells compared to those on healthy cells (A10). MA induced cytotoxic effects in cancer cells (IC50 42 µM), whereas no effect was found in A10 cells treated with MA (up to 210 µM). In order to produce a stress situation in cells, 0.15 mM H2O2 was added. Under stressful conditions, MA protected both cell lines against oxidative damage, decreasing intracellular ROS, which were higher in B16F10 than in A10 cells. The treatment with H2O2 and without MA produced different responses in antioxidant enzyme activities depending on the cell line. In A10 cells, all the enzymes were up-regulated, but in B16F10 cells, only superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase increased their activities. MA restored the enzyme activities to levels similar to those in the control group in both cell lines, highlighting that in A10 cells, the highest MA doses induced values lower than control. Overall, these findings demonstrate the great antioxidant capacity of MA.

Antiproliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Effect of Uvaol in Human Hepatocarcinoma HepG2 Cells by Affecting G0/G1 Cell Cycle Arrest, ROS Production and AKT/PI3K Signaling Pathway.

Natural products have a significant role in the development of new drugs, being relevant the pentacyclic triterpenes extracted from Olea europaea L. Anticancer effect of uvaol, a natural triterpene, has been scarcely studied. The aim of this study was to understand the anticancer mechanism of uvaol in the HepG2 cell line. Cytotoxicity results showed a selectivity effect of uvaol with higher influence in HepG2 than WRL68 cells used as control. Our results show that uvaol has a clear and selective anticancer activity in HepG2 cells supported by a significant anti-migratory capacity and a significant increase in the expression of HSP-60. Furthermore, the administration of this triterpene induces cell arrest in the G0/G1 phase, as well as an increase in the rate of cell apoptosis. These results are supported by a decrease in the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2, an increase in the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, together with a down-regulation of the AKT/PI3K signaling pathway. A reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in HepG2 cells was also observed. Altogether, results showed anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effect of uvaol on hepatocellular carcinoma, constituting an interesting challenge in the development of new treatments against this type of cancer.

Nutritional history does not modulate hepatic oxidative status of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) submitted to handling stress.

The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of an acute handling stress on hepatic oxidative status of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles fed diets differing in lipid so urce and carbohydrate content. For that purpose, four diets were formulated with fish oil (FO) and vegetable oils (VO) as lipid source and with 20 or 0% gelatinized starch as carbohydrate source. Triplicate groups of fish with 74 g were fed each diet during 13 weeks and then subjected to an acute handling stress. Stress exposure decreased hematocrit (Ht) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels. Independent of dietary treatment, stress exposure increased hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO). Stressed fish exhibited lower glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, independent of previous nutritional history. In the VO groups, stress exposure increased glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity. Diet composition had no effect on Ht and Hb levels. In contrast, dietary carbohydrate decreased hepatic LPO and CAT activity and increased glutathione reductase (GR) and G6PD activities. Dietary lipids had no effect on LPO. Fish fed the VO diets exhibited higher G6PD activity than fish fed the FO diets. In conclusion, dietary carbohydrates contributed to the reduction of oxidative stress in fish. However, under the imposed handling stress conditions, liver enzymatic antioxidant mechanisms were not enhanced, which may explain the overall increased oxidative stress.

Dietary carbohydrates improve oxidative status of common dentex (Dentex dentex) juveniles, a carnivorous fish species.

Common dentex (Dentex dentex) is an appreciated carnivorous fish with high growth rate and life cycle adaptable to existing farming techniques. Since the use of carbohydrates is an economic and sustainable alternative for a protein-sparing effect, the study of how this macronutrient affects the welfare of carnivorous species must be studied. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different types and levels of carbohydrates on common dentex oxidative status. Nine isonitrogenous (43%) and isoenergetic (22MJkg-1) diets were formulated combining three types (pregelatinized starch-PS, dextrin-Dx and maltodextrin-Mx) and three levels (12, 18 and 24%) of carbohydrates. The activities of catalase-CAT, superoxide dismutase-SOD, glutathione peroxidase-GPX, glutathione reductase-GR and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase-G6PDH, SOD isoenzymatic profile, lipid peroxidation-LPO and protein oxidation-PO were determined in liver and white muscle. SOD and CAT were not affected. GPX in liver and white muscle and GR in liver increased at higher inclusion carbohydrates levels. The lowest levels of GR and G6PDH in both tissues and LPO in liver were observed in maltodextrin groups. No significant effects by carbohydrate source were observed in liver PO and white muscle LPO. Regarding carbohydrate level effect, 18% and 24% dietary inclusion level decreased LPO in white muscle and PO in liver. LPO in liver was also decreased at 24% inclusion level. Altogether, results indicate the use of carbohydrates as an alternative energy source does not produce negative effects on oxidative status of common dentex, on the contrary, even contribute to their oxidative protection.

Serum biochemical and non-specific immune responses of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to dietary nucleotide and chronic stress.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether supplementary nucleotide "Optimun" mitigates the adverse effects of chronic overcrowding in Oncorhynchus mykiss. Two experimental diets [control and nucleotide-supplemented (0.2 %)] and two rearing densities (10 and 30 kg m(-3)) were combined to have four experimental treatments. The fish were reared for 45 days under different densities using different diets. At the end of the trial, FCR of the fish in higher density was significantly higher than those of the lower density. Nucleotide had no significant effects on growth performance and survival rate. Supplemented nucleotide significantly increased blood hematocrit, whereas it decreased serum total protein, total immunoglobulin (Ig) and creatinine. Overcrowding significantly increased serum glucose and total protein level and decreased serum lysozyme activity, but supplemented nucleotide produced no improvement in these items. No significant effect of overcrowding and dietary nucleotide was observed on serum cortisol. Supplemented nucleotide significantly increased serum urea under low stocking density. Overall, the results showed that 0.2 % "Optimun" had no positive effects on rainbow trout and also caused some immunological and metabolic problems. These findings are not in accordance with those obtained in the same species, with same nucleotide source and level, but acute stress; thus, further studies are encouraged on this topic.

Metabolic responses to dietary protein/carbohydrate ratios in zebra sea bream (Diplodus cervinus, Lowe, 1838) juveniles.

This study aims to evaluate the effect of diets with different protein to carbohydrate ratios (P:C) on the omnivorous zebra sea bream (Diplodus cervinus) juveniles growth performance, feed efficiency, N excretion and metabolic response of intermediary metabolism enzymes. Four isoenergetic and isolipidic diets were formulated to contain increasing protein levels (25, 35, 45 and 55%) at the expense of carbohydrates (43, 32, 21 and 9%): diets P25C43, P35C32, P45C21 and P55C9. Growth performance, feed efficiency (FE), N intake [(g kg(-1) average body weight (ABW) day(-1))], N retention (g kg(-1) ABW day(-1)) and energy retention (kJ kg(-1) ABW day(-1)) increased with the increase of P:C ratio. The best growth performance and FE were achieved with diet P45C21. Ammonia excretion (mg NH4­N kg(-1) ABW day(-1)) increased as dietary protein level increased. Alanine aminotransferase and glutamate dehydrogenase activities increased with the increase of dietary P:C ratio. The opposite was observed for malic enzyme activity. Aspartate aminotransferase, hexokinase, glucokinase, fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase and fatty acid synthetase activities were unaffected by dietary treatments. Response of key amino acid catabolic enzymes and N excretion levels to dietary P:C ratio supports the metabolic adaptability of this species to dietary protein inclusion levels. Overall, zebra sea bream seems capable of better utilize dietary protein rather than dietary carbohydrates as energy source which may be an obstacle for using more economically diets and thus for reducing environmental N loads in semi-intensive aquaculture of this species.

Effects of fish oil replacement by vegetable oil blend on digestive enzymes and tissue histomorphology of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles.

The impact of replacing circa 70% fish oil (FO) by a vegetable oil (VO) blend (rapeseed, linseed, palm oils; 20:50:30) in diets for European sea bass juveniles (IBW 96 ± 0.8 g) was evaluated in terms of activities of digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase, alkaline phosphatase, trypsin and total alkaline proteases) in the anterior (AI) and posterior (PI) intestine and tissue morphology (pyloric caeca-PC, AI, PI, distal intestine-DI and liver). For that purpose, fish were fed the experimental diets for 36 days and then liver and intestine were sampled at 2, 6 and 24 h after the last meal. Alkaline protease characterization was also done in AI and PI at 6 h post-feeding. Dietary VO promoted higher alkaline phosphatase activity at 2 h post-feeding in the AI and at all sampling points in the PI. Total alkaline protease activity was higher at 6 h post-feeding in the PI of fish fed the FO diet. Identical number of bands was observed in zymograms of alkaline proteases of fish fed both diets. No alterations in the histomorphology of PC, AI, PI or DI were noticed in fish fed the VO diets, while in the liver a tendency towards increased hepatocyte vacuolization due to lipid accumulation was observed. Overall, and with the exception of a higher intestine alkaline phosphatase activity, 70% FO replacement by a VO blend in diets for European sea bass resulted in no distinctive alterations on the postprandial pattern of digestive enzyme activities and intestine histomorphology.

Gut morphology and hepatic oxidative status of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles fed plant feedstuffs or fishmeal-based diets supplemented with short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides and xylo-oligosaccharides.

The effects of short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS) and xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) on gut morphology and hepatic oxidative status were studied in European sea bass juveniles weighing 60 g. Fish were fed diets including fishmeal (FM diets) or plant feedstuffs (PF diets; 30 FM:70 PF) as main protein sources (control diets). Four other diets were formulated similar to the control diets but including 1 % scFOS or 1 % XOS. At the end of the trial, fish fed PF-based diets presented histomorphological alterations in the distal intestine, whereas only transient alterations were observed in the pyloric caeca. Comparatively to fish fed FM-based diets, fish fed PF diets had higher liver lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, and lower glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities. In fish fed the PF diets, prebiotic supplementation decreased SOD activity and XOS supplementation further decreased CAT activity. In fish fed the FM diets, XOS supplementation promoted a reduction of all antioxidant enzyme activities. Overall, dietary XOS and scFOS supplementation had only minor effects on gut morphology or LPO levels. However, dietary XOS reduced antioxidant enzymatic activity in both PF and FM diets, which indicate a positive effect on reduction of hepatic reactive oxygen species production.

Dietary carbohydrate and lipid source affect cholesterol metabolism of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles.

Plant feedstuffs (PF) are rich in carbohydrates, which may interact with lipid metabolism. Thus, when considering dietary replacement of fishery by-products with PF, knowledge is needed on how dietary lipid source (LS) and carbohydrates affect lipid metabolism and other metabolic pathways. For that purpose, a 73-d growth trial was performed with European sea bass juveniles (IBW 74 g) fed four diets differing in LS (fish oil (FO) or a blend of vegetable oils (VO)) and carbohydrate content (0 % (CH-) or 20 % (CH+) gelatinised starch). At the end of the trial no differences among diets were observed on growth and feed utilisation. Protein efficiency ratio was, however, higher in the CH+ groups. Muscle and liver fatty acid profiles reflected the dietary LS. Dietary carbohydrate promoted higher plasma cholesterol and phospholipids (PL), whole-body and hepatic (mainly 16 : 0) lipids and increased muscular and hepatic glycogen. Except for PL, which were higher in the FO groups, no major alterations between FO and VO groups were observed on plasma metabolites (glucose, TAG, cholesterol, PL), liver and muscle glycogen, and lipid and cholesterol contents. Activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme - lipogenesis-related enzymes - increased with carbohydrate intake. Hepatic expression of genes involved in cholesterol metabolism was up-regulated with carbohydrate (HMGCR and CYP3A27) and VO (HMGCR and CYP51A1) intake. No dietary regulation of long-chain PUFA biosynthesis at the transcriptional level was observed. Overall, very few interactions between dietary carbohydrates and LS were observed. However, important insights on the direct relation between dietary carbohydrate and the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway in European sea bass were demonstrated.

Dietary carbohydrate and lipid sources affect differently the oxidative status of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary lipid source and carbohydrate content on the oxidative status of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles. For that purpose, four diets were formulated with fish oil (FO) and vegetable oils (VO) as the lipid source and with 20 or 0 % gelatinised starch as the carbohydrate source, in a 2×2 factorial design. Liver and intestine antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)), hepatic and intestinal lipid peroxidation (LPO), as well as hepatic oxidative stress index (OSI), were measured in fish fed the experimental diets for 73 d (n 9 fish/diet). Carbohydrate-rich diets promoted a decrease in hepatic LPO and OSI, whereas the lipid source induced no changes. Inversely, dietary lipid source, but not dietary carbohydrate concentration, affected LPO in the intestine. Lower intestinal LPO was observed in VO groups. Enzymes responsive to dietary treatments were GR, G6PD and CAT in the liver and GR and GPX in the intestine. Dietary carbohydrate induced GR and G6PD activities and depressed CAT activity in the liver. GPX and GR activities were increased in the intestine of fish fed VO diets. Overall, effects of diet composition on oxidative status were tissue-related: the liver and intestine were strongly responsive to dietary carbohydrates and lipid sources, respectively. Furthermore, different metabolic routes were more active to deal with the oxidative stress in the two organs studied.

Nutritional and metabolic responses in common dentex (Dentex dentex) fed on different types and levels of carbohydrates.

The present study was aimed to evaluate the capacity of common dentex (Dentex dentex) to efficiently use dietary carbohydrates. So, the effects of different type and levels of carbohydrates on growth performance, feed utilization, fish composition, plasma metabolites and key metabolic pathways in liver and white muscle of common dentex are presented. Nine isonitrogenous (43%) and isoenergetic (22 MJ kg(-1)) diets were formulated combining three types, pregelatinized starch (PS), dextrin (Dx) and maltodextrin (Mx), and three levels (12, 18 and 24%) of carbohydrates. Growth performance was not significantly influenced by treatments. The best feed utilization was observed in 18% Mx group. Higher hepatic lipid content was found in fish fed lower dietary carbohydrate levels. PS induced higher liver and white muscle hexokinase and pyruvate kinase activities compared to the lower values observed for Mx. Malic enzyme and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in liver and white muscle were lower in Mx group. The influence of dietary carbohydrates source was more noticeable than those induced by the carbohydrate level, when glycolysis and lipogenesis pathways were considered. Common dentex is able to use properly dietary carbohydrates, although optimal dietary inclusion levels are below 24%. The greater protein-sparing effect was promoted by the less complex carbohydrate (maltodextrin) and the best feed utilization indices were obtained at intermediate levels of inclusion (18%).

Effect of temperature and short chain fructooligosaccharides supplementation on the hepatic oxidative status and immune response of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus).

In this study the effect of diet supplementation with different levels of short-chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) on the hepatic oxidative status, hematology and innate immune parameters was evaluated in turbot reared at 15 °C and 20 °C. Four practical diets containing half of the protein provided by plant ingredients and the other half by fish meal were supplemented with scFOS at 0%, 0.5%, 1.0% and 2.0% and fed to turbot juveniles for 9 weeks. Independently of the rearing temperature, diet with 1% scFOS increased the haematocrit (Ht) while 2% scFOS augmented the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), white blood cells (%) and lysozyme were higher in fish reared at 15 °C, whereas red blood cells and neutrophil numbers increased in fish reared at 20 °C. Catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities were affected by rearing temperature being lower in fish reared at 20 °C. Compared to the control diet, at 15 °C, turbot fed 0.5 or 1% scFOS presented lower activities of CAT and glutathione reductase (GR). At 20 °C turbot fed the 2% scFOS diet presented lower activities of CAT and GPX. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity were not affected by temperature nor dietary prebiotic incorporation. Results of this study suggest scFOS has no effect on innate immunology or hematology. High temperature (20 °C) does not induce turbot oxidative stress, but the recommended dietary scFOS incorporation level for counteracting oxidative stress may differ with other rearing temperature.

Effects of diet supplementation with white tea and methionine on lipid metabolism of gilthead sea bream juveniles (Sparus aurata).

A growth trial was performed with gilthead sea bream juveniles (Sparus aurata) to evaluate the effect of diet supplementation with white tea and methionine on fish performance and lipid metabolism. For that purpose, four diets were formulated: a fish meal-based diet (Control) and diets identical to the control diet but supplemented with 2.9 % white tea (Tea), 0.3 % methionine (Met) or 2.9 % white tea plus 0.3 % methionine (Tea + Met). Growth performance and feed efficiency parameters, whole-body and liver composition, plasma metabolites concentration and liver glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), malic enzyme (ME) and fatty acid synthetase (FAS) activities were determined. Feed intake was higher in fish fed methionine-supplemented diets, whereas this parameter and growth was decreased in fish fed white tea supplementation. Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were not affected by diet composition. Plasma HDL cholesterol and total lipids concentration were higher in fish fed white tea-supplemented diets. Whole-body lipid, plasma glucose, liver glycogen concentration and liver G6PDH, ME and FAS activities were lower in fish fed white tea-supplemented diets. Results of the present study indicate that methionine seems to act as a feed attractant in diets for sea bream juveniles. Additionally, white tea is an important modulator of lipid metabolism in sea bream juveniles.

The effect of dietary methionine and white tea on oxidative status of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata).

Free radicals are continuously generated during an organism's lifetime. In order to understand the involvement in the oxidative status of fish, methionine and white tea were assayed as antioxidant supplements in diets for gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). For the purpose of this study, four isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated to contain 45 % of protein and 18 % lipid and 0·3 % methionine (Met diet), 2·9 % white tea dry leaves (Tea diet) and 2·9 % of white tea dry leaves + 0·3 % methionine (Tea + Met diet). An unsupplemented diet was used as the control. Key enzymatic antioxidant defences, superoxide dismutase (SOD) isoenzyme profile, total, reduced and oxidised glutathione and oxidative damage markers were determined. The results showed that dietary methionine supplementation increased liver SOD activity, while white tea induced higher hepatic catalase activity. Dietary white tea induced a notable increase in Mn-SOD isoenzyme. This is the first study to provide evidence that dietary tea inclusion in fish feeding could be an important source of Mn with metabolic repercussions on antioxidant mechanisms.