Evaluation of chitinolytic activities and membrane integrity in gut tissues of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) fed fish meal and zygomycete biomass.

• Chitinolytic activity, nutrient uptake and intestinal barrier functions were investigated in gut tissues of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) fed iso-nitrogenous diets based on fish meal, with or without inclusion of zygomycetes (Rhizopus oryzae). We found that gut tissue of Arctic charr had significant chitinase activity, of both endo- and exo-chitinase iso-forms. Moreover, the distribution pattern along the GI tract of Arctic charr differed between endo-chitinase and exo-chitinase. The endo-chitinase activity in stomach tissue and in the distal intestine was several hundred-fold higher than the exo-chitinase activity in stomach tissue. The greatest exo-chitinase activity was found in the distal intestine. The zygomycete-based diet resulted in higher chitinolytic activity in gut tissue compared to the fish meal-based diet. Disturbed intestinal integrity and increased uptake rate of the amino acid lysine were observed in the distal, but not proximal, intestine of fish fed the zygomycete-based feed.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Zoologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Zoology (hsv//eng)

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Lantbruksvetenskap, skogsbruk och fiske -- Fisk- och akvakulturforskning (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries -- Fish and Aquacultural Science (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)