title: Vitamin E deficiency depressed fish growth, disease resistance, and the immunity and structural integrity of immune organs in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella): Referring to NF-κB, TOR and Nrf2 signaling.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of dietary vitamin E on growth, disease resistance and the immunity and structural integrity of head kidney, spleen and skin in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). The fish were fed six diets containing graded levels of vitamin E (0, 45, 90, 135, 180 and 225 mg/kg diet) for 10 weeks. Subsequently, a challenge test was conducted by injection of Aeromonas hydrophila. The results showed that compared with optimal vitamin E supplementation, vitamin E deficiency caused depressed growth, poor survival rates and increased skin lesion morbidity in grass carp. Meanwhile, vitamin E deficiency decreased lysozyme and acid phosphatase activities, complement component 3 and complement component 4 contents in the head kidney, spleen and skin of grass carp (P < 0.05). Moreover, vitamin E deficiency down-regulated antimicrobial peptides (Hepcidin, liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide-2A, -2B, β-defensin), IL-10, TGFβ1, IκBα, TOR and S6K1 mRNA levels (P < 0.05) and up-regulated IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ2 and TNFα, NF-κB p65, IKKα, IKKβ and 4EBP1 (not in the head kidney) mRNA levels (P < 0.05). In addition, vitamin E deficiency caused oxidative damage, decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities, and down-regulated the mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes and signaling molecules Nrf2 (P < 0.05). Vitamin E deficiency also induced apoptosis by up-regulating capase-2, -3, -7, and -8 mRNA levels in the head kidney, spleen and skin of grass carp. In conclusion, this study indicated that dietary vitamin E deficiency depressed fish growth, impaired the immune function and disturbed the structural integrity of the head kidney, spleen and skin in grass carp, but optimal vitamin E supplementation can reverse those negative effects in fish. The optimal vitamin E requirements for young grass carp (266.39-1026.63 g) to achieve optimal growth performance and disease resistance based on the percent weight gain (PWG) and skin lesion morbidity were estimated to be 116.2 and 130.9 mg/kg diet, respectively. Meanwhile, based on immune indicator (LA activity in the head kidney) and antioxidant indicator (protection of spleen against MDA), the optimal vitamin E requirements for young grass carp were estimated to be 123.8 and 136.4 mg/kg diet, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Dan
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Academy of Animal Science, Chengdu 610066, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Yao
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kuang
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Academy of Animal Science, Chengdu 610066, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China.
authors.forename: Yong-An
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China. Electronic address: xqzhouqq@tom.com.
authors.forename: Xiao-Qiu
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China. Electronic address: kyckgk@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D016980:Aeromonas hydrophila / Q000502:physiology; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002347:Carps / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D060467:Disease Resistance / Q000276:immunology; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D060226:Head Kidney / Q000276:immunology; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000276:immunology; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D029941:Fish Proteins; D014810:Vitamin E
keywords: Antioxidant capacity; Apoptosis; Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella); Immune organs; Immunity; Vitamin E