title: The effect of vitamin C on the non-specific immune response of the juvenile soft-shelled turtle (Trionyx sinensis).
abstract: The study was conducted to determine the effect of supplementation vitamin C in dietary non-specific immunity in juvenile soft-shelled turtles. The soft-shelled turtles were fed with vitamin C supplementation at dosages of 0, 250, 500, 2500, 5000 and 10000 mg/kg diets, respectively, for 4 weeks. The results showed that there were no differences in the phagocytosis of blood cells, serum bacteriolytic activity and bactericidal activity among soft-shelled turtles fed with vitamin C supplementation in 0-500 mg/kg diets. However, firm indicators were significantly enhanced in soft-shelled turtles fed with vitamin C supplementation at 2500 mg/kg diets compared with those fed at 0 and 250 mg/kg diets. The soft-shelled turtles fed with 5000 mg/kg diets had only significantly higher bactericidal activity than those fed vitamin C-deficient diets. The vitamin C supplementation in 10000 mg/kg diets had no notable effects on the phagocytosis, bacteriolytic activity and bactericidal activity. These results suggest that vitamin C seems have an upper and lower threshold for improving non-specific immune function, and the optimum dose was 2500 mg/kg.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, PR China. xqzhou@cpums.edu.cn
authors.forename: Xianqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Cuijuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Ruyong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Qingfen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D014426:Turtles / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid