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Changes in digestive enzyme activities during the early ontogeny of milkfish, Chanos chanos larvae

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Abstract

Knowledge of the developmental ontogeny of the digestive system and nutritional requirements of marine fish larvae is a primary requisite for their successful rearing under an optimal feeding regime. In this context, we assessed the activity profile of key digestive enzymes viz., trypsin, chymotrypsin, leucine aminopeptidase, lipase, amylase, and alkaline phosphatase during the early ontogeny of milkfish, Chanos chanos (0 day, 3 days, 6 days, 9 days, 12 days, 15 days, 18 days, 21 days, 25 days, and 30 days post-hatch). Larvae for this study were obtained from the successful breeding of milkfish at ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, India. Growth curves (length and weight) of the larvae indicated a positive morphological development under a standardized feeding regime that comprised Chlorella salina, Brachionus plicatilis, Artemia salina nauplii, and commercial weaning feed for different larval stages. With respect to protein digestion, the specific activity of pancreatic enzymes trypsin and chymotrypsin and intestinal brush border leucine aminopeptidase showed two peaks at 3 dph and 15 dph, following the introduction of rotifer and Artemia nauplii. Similar bimodal peaks were observed for alkaline phosphatase and amylase activities, with the first peak at 3 dph and the second peak at 18 dph and 21 dph, respectively. Whereas in the case of lipase, high activity levels were observed at 0 dph, 3 dph, and 18 dph, with subsequent decreases and fluctuations. Overall, as most of the enzymes were found to have peak activities at 15 to 21 dph, this period can be potentially considered as the developmental window for weaning larvae from live to formulated feeds in milkfish hatcheries.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Indian Council of Agricultural Research for providing financial support to carry out this research program (FISHCIBASIL 201800800147). The authors are grateful to the director of ICAR-CIBA for his facilitation, support, and guidance. We also sincerely appreciate the fish hatchery and feed mill staff at Muttukadu Experimental Station of ICAR-CIBA for their help in conducting the experiments and laboratory analysis.

Funding

Indian Council of Agricultural Research, FISHCIBASIL 201800800136.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. TNJFU-Institute of Fisheries Post Graduate Studies (IFPGS), OMR Campus, Vaniyanchavadi, Chennai, 603103, India

    Thirugnanamurthy Sivaramakrishnan

  2. ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, 75-Santhome High Road, MRC Nagar, RA Puram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600028, India

    Thirugnanamurthy Sivaramakrishnan, Kondusamy Ambasankar, Aritra Bera, K.P. Kumaraguru Vasagam & Muniyandi Kailasam

  3. Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalitha Fisheries University (TNJFU), Vettar River View Campus, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, 611002, India

    Nathan Felix

  4. ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal, Nainital, Uttarakhand, 263136, India

    Biju Sam Kamalam

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  1. Thirugnanamurthy Sivaramakrishnan
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  2. Kondusamy Ambasankar
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  4. Aritra Bera
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  7. Muniyandi Kailasam
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Contributions

Thirugnanmurthy Sivaramakrishnan conceived, concept developed, and designed the study. Thirugnanmurthy Sivaramakrishnan and Aritra Bera conducted the experiments and collected the data. Thirugnanmurthy Sivaramakrishnan and Biju Sam Kamalam enzyme analyzed and revised the manuscript, and Kondusamy Ambasankar supervised the study. Thirugnanmurthy Sivaramakrishnan wrote the manuscript. K.P. Kumaraguru Vasagam and Muniyandi Kailasam, Nathan Felix, and Ambasankar Kondusamy revised the manuscript. All authors edited and approved the final manuscript for submission to the journal.

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Correspondence to Thirugnanamurthy Sivaramakrishnan.

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The institute animal ethical committee clearance was obtained for this study at the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai, India. Milkfish, Chanos chanos larvae used in the experiment, is obtained from the hatchery, and it is not an endangered fish as per the provisions of the Govt. of India’s Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

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Sivaramakrishnan, T., Ambasankar, K., Felix, N. et al. Changes in digestive enzyme activities during the early ontogeny of milkfish, Chanos chanos larvae. Fish Physiol Biochem 49, 867–882 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-023-01225-1

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